Odisha Cabinet Approves ₹1,500 Cr Tourism Fund, Industrial Push
Synopsis
The Odisha Cabinet has approved a ₹1,500 crore tourism infrastructure fund, amendments to the Odisha Industrial Policy 2022 targeting 15 industrially backward districts, and over ₹210 crore for a women workers' hostel at Kalibeti Industrial Estate in Khordha — a coordinated push to diversify and balance the state's economic growth.
Key Takeaways
The Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure Scheme was approved to enable balanced tourism development across Odisha . ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked over 5 years to build tourism infrastructure and attract investment.
Amendments to the Odisha Industrial Policy, 2022 were cleared to fast-track industrial expansion in underserved areas.
Industries are to be set up in 15 districts currently lacking any meaningful industrial presence.
Over ₹210 crore approved for the Women Workers' Hostel Development Project at Kalibeti Industrial Estate, Khordha .
The decisions collectively target tourism investors, women industrial workers, and industrially backward regions of the state.
The Chief Minister's Office of Odisha announced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, that the Odisha Cabinet has approved a sweeping set of decisions covering tourism infrastructure, industrial expansion, and worker welfare, signalling a broad push to diversify the state's economic base.
Context
The cabinet cleared the Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure Scheme, a new framework designed to promote balanced tourism development across the state by making land available for hospitality projects in underserved regions. Alongside this, ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked over five years to strengthen tourism infrastructure and attract private investment into the sector. The twin decisions reflect a deliberate effort to move beyond Odisha's traditional reliance on mining and agriculture and build a services economy with deeper geographic spread.Policy Backdrop
The cabinet also approved amendments to the Odisha Industrial Policy, 2022, the state's primary framework for manufacturing incentives that offers capital subsidies and single-window clearances to new industrial units. The revised policy is aimed at accelerating industrial expansion by specifically targeting districts that currently have little to no industrial presence. Under the amended framework, industries are to be established in 15 districts that have so far remained outside the state's manufacturing map, a move that directly addresses long-standing regional imbalances in economic activity. Odisha has pursued successive industrial policies over the past decade to widen its investment base, and this amendment continues that lineage with a sharper focus on lagging geographies.Stakeholders and Impact
Perhaps the most targeted welfare measure in the package is the approval of ₹210 crore-plus for the Women Workers' Hostel Development Project at Kalibeti Industrial Estate in Khordha district. Khordha, adjacent to the state capital Bhubaneswar, hosts several industrial estates and is a focal point for manufacturing activity in the region. The hostel project is designed to provide safe, affordable accommodation for women employed at the estate, addressing a persistent barrier to female labour-force participation in industrial zones. Stakeholders across tourism investment, women's workforce inclusion, and industrially backward districts stand to benefit directly from the three-pronged cabinet package.What's Next
Implementation will be the key test for all three decisions. The Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure Scheme will require active land acquisition and allocation processes before private investors can be brought in, while the timeline for hostel construction and occupancy at Kalibeti is yet to be publicly detailed. Progress on attracting investment proposals to the 15 targeted districts will serve as an early indicator of whether the industrial policy amendments translate into on-ground activity. Odisha's ability to coordinate land availability, investor outreach, and worker infrastructure simultaneously will determine how quickly these approvals move from policy to practice, and whether the state can cement its position as a leading investment destination in eastern India.Point of View
Supply-side industrial policy, and worker welfare — a more integrated approach than single-sector announcements. The focus on 15 industrially dark districts signals that the state is responding to criticism that earlier industrial policies concentrated growth around Bhubaneswar and coastal corridors. The women's hostel allocation at Kalibeti fits a wider eastern-India pattern of states using worker amenities to unlock female labour supply in manufacturing zones. Whether these approvals translate into measurable outcomes will depend heavily on land acquisition pace and investor interest in the targeted districts — both of which have historically lagged behind policy ambition in the region.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Odisha Cabinet approve for tourism in 2026?
The Odisha Cabinet approved the Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure Scheme and earmarked ₹1,500 crore over five years to strengthen tourism infrastructure and attract investment across the state.
Which districts will get new industries under the Odisha Industrial Policy amendment?
The amended Odisha Industrial Policy, 2022 targets 15 districts that currently lack industrial presence, though the specific district names have not been listed in the cabinet announcement.
What is the Kalibeti Industrial Estate women workers hostel project?
The Women Workers' Hostel Development Project at Kalibeti Industrial Estate in Khordha district received cabinet approval of over ₹210 crore to provide safe accommodation for women employed at the estate.
What is the Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure Scheme in Odisha?
It is a newly approved state scheme that creates a dedicated land bank to support hospitality and tourism infrastructure projects, aimed at promoting balanced tourism development beyond existing tourist hotspots in Odisha .
How does the Odisha Industrial Policy 2022 amendment help backward districts?
The amendment directs industrial establishment specifically to 15 districts with little or no existing industry, using the policy's existing incentives — capital subsidies and single-window clearances — to attract investment to lagging regions.