Odisha looking to increase its contribution to national GDP from 3% to 5%: Governor

Odisha aims to boost its GDP contribution from 3% to 5% through investment reforms and infrastructure development, says Governor Kambhampati.

Odisha aims to increase the State’s contribution to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 3% to 5%, with average annual growth rising from 7% to 9.5% through reforms in investment, execution, and technology adoption, said Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday (February 17, 2026).

Delivering his inaugural address in the budget session of Odisha Legislative Assembly, Mr. Kambhampati presented State’s strong economic fundamentals and planned massive infrastructure proposals that would give push for further momentum to economic growth.

“The State targets raising per capita income from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 32 lakh by 2047, improving living standards, reducing multidimensional poverty to 5%, increasing female labour force participation to 70%, raising life expectancy beyond 80 years and eliminating anaemia and malnutrition, in alignment with India’s Vision and global best practices,” he said.

“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government’s recent approvals for mega-projects in Odisha reflect strong confidence in the State’s future and will unlock significant socio-economic benefits. The approval of the ₹8,300 crore for Rameshwar–Paradip Coastal Highway and 6-lane access-controlled Greenfield Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass), with an investment of about ₹8,308 crore, would surely improve connectivity,” said Odisha Governor in his address.

“The Odisha State Road Policy, 2025 has been implemented to create a high-quality road network for seamless movement of people and goods, while the Odisha State Highway Authority Act, 2025 has been promulgated to fast-track highway development through a dedicated institutional mechanism,” Mr. Kambhampati pointed out.

Highlighting State’s mineral wealth, he said, “with the efforts of government, Odisha continues to occupy a pre-eminent position in the national mining and steel landscape. The State is endowed with nearly one third of India’s total iron ore reserves and contributed over 61% of the country’s total iron ore production in 2024–25. Odisha also holds the first position in the production of Steel and Stainless Steel in the country.”