Odisha News Today

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is preparing to make one of its strongest sector-specific investment pitches at the upcoming investors' meet this month, with electrical equipment manufacturing emerging as the new focus area. Banking on a sector capable of generating around 1.2 lakh to 1.5 lakh jobs for every Rs1 lakh crore invested, the state is set to join frontrunner Gujarat in aggressively courting manufacturers of transformers, switchgears, cables, smart meters, power equipment, industrial motors and grid infrastructure. The move signals a strategic shift in Odisha's industrial policy – from being primarily a supplier of metals to becoming a manufacturing destination for value-added electrical equipment. Electrical Equipment: Odisha's Next Big Employment Engine The timing of Odisha's push could not be more significant. India's energy transition, rapid renewable energy expansion, power distribution reforms and transmission infrastructure projects are driving unprecedented demand for electrical equipment. Massive investments in green energy, battery storage systems, smart grids, electric mobility and industrial electrification are expected to keep demand buoyant for the next decade. Recognising this opportunity, the Odisha government intends to position the state as a preferred destination for manufacturers looking to establish integrated facilities for power transmission equipment, electrical machinery, cables, conductors, transformers and renewable energy components. Unlike traditional heavy industries that are capital intensive with relatively lower employment generation, electrical equipment manufacturing offers significantly higher direct and indirect job creation while nurturing a strong MSME vendor ecosystem. Why Odisha is Taking on Gujarat For years, Gujarat has dominated India's heavy electrical equipment manufacturing ecosystem, while Tamil Nadu has emerged as the country's electronics manufacturing powerhouse. Gujarat enjoys a dense network of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component suppliers and export-oriented industrial clusters. Odisha, however, believes it possesses structural advantages that can help it narrow the gap. Unlike Gujarat, which largely sources key industrial metals from other states, Odisha sits at the very source of the raw materials that power the electrical equipment industry. The state produces over half of India's aluminium, remains the country's largest steel producer and possesses significant reserves of nickel, cobalt and manganese – all critical inputs for power equipment, transmission infrastructure, battery energy storage systems and renewable energy components. This upstream dominance enables manufacturers to cut logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency and reduce production expenses. The state also offers a strategic logistics advantage through Paradip Port, providing direct access to eastern India, the North-East and fast-growing ASEAN markets. Odisha's Biggest USP: Raw Materials to Ready Ecosystem Odisha's biggest selling point is that it is no longer merely offering land to investors; it is offering an integrated manufacturing ecosystem. The state's Info Valley Electronics Manufacturing Cluster near Bhubaneswar provides plug-and-play infrastructure for electronics and electrical component manufacturers, complete with ready factory spaces, reliable utilities and common testing facilities. Downstream metal parks at Angul and Kalinganagar allow industries to source aluminium and steel virtually at the production point, reducing transportation costs and improving competitiveness. The emerging electrical and capital goods cluster in Khordha is further strengthening the local supplier base for switchgears, circuit breakers, control panels and industrial equipment. Supporting this ecosystem are more than 1,000 MSMEs supplying components, state-backed testing facilities, dedicated industrial power infrastructure and the "Skilled in Odisha" programme, which is producing technicians trained in electronics assembly, CNC machining and high-voltage systems. Perhaps the strongest argument in Odisha's favour is the demand that already exists within the state itself. With an ambitious industrial expansion programme worth nearly Rs10 lakh crore and a target of developing 11 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Odisha will require enormous quantities of transformers, smart meters, substations, switchgears and transmission equipment over the coming years. Instead of merely exporting raw materials, the state is now seeking to manufacture these products locally, creating jobs, building ancillary industries and moving up the industrial value chain. If the upcoming investors' meet succeeds in attracting major electrical equipment manufacturers, Odisha's industrial story could undergo a significant transformation – from India's mineral storehouse to one of the country's fastest-growing destinations for high-value electrical equipment manufacturing. Also Read: Textiles, HCL Lead Odisha's Labour-Intensive Industrial Evolution as SLWC Clears ₹4,573-Crore Investments | Special Report

Bhubaneswar: Hours after miscreants attempted to loot a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, and failing in their bid, allegedly stole two motorcycles and vandalised several parked vehicles in frustration, the incident has once again exposed the growing vulnerability of cash kiosks across Odisha. The latest strike marks the third ATM loot or major break-in attempt in Bhubaneswar in just the first seven months of 2026, underlining how the capital city continues to remain on the radar of organised criminal gangs. From local criminal networks to highly coordinated interstate syndicates, ATMs in Odisha have increasingly become sitting-duck jackpots. As per the data available, more than 125 ATM loot cases – including successful robberies and major break-in attempts – have been reported in Odisha between 2016 and August 2026. What makes the crime even more lucrative is the low probability of getting caught. Despite the growing frequency of attacks, Odisha Police have managed to solve only around 35-40 cases, roughly 30% of the total incidents, leaving nearly seven out of every 10 ATM crimes unresolved. The combination of huge cash payouts and relatively low detection risk has turned ATMs into one of the most attractive targets for organised criminals. How ATMs Became a Jackpot for Criminals For organised gangs, the economics of ATM robberies are compelling. A successful ATM breach can fetch Rs15 lakh to Rs30 lakh within minutes. Most standalone kiosks, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas, remain unguarded at night and lack real-time surveillance integrated with police control rooms. The numbers present an attractive equation for criminals. Potential reward: Rs15-30 lakh in one operation. Probability of escaping: Nearly 70%. Execution time: Often less than three minutes in the latest SUV-based operations. The high payoff coupled with a relatively low risk of arrest has encouraged not only local gangs but also organised interstate syndicates, many of whom allegedly channel proceeds into narcotics, illegal arms and other organised crime networks. ATM Loot Enormity in Odisha (2016-2026) Year Reported ATM Loots/Attempts Major Trend 2016 4-6 Traditional physical break-ins 2017 6-8 Cutting cash trays using crude tools 2018 8-11 Entry of specialised uprooting gangs 2019 12-15 Gas cutters, crude bomb attacks 2020 9-11 Pandemic slowdown; urban kiosks targeted 2021 11-14 Industrial gas cutters become common 2022 15-18 Heavy machinery and vehicle dragging 2023 16-20 Coordinated masked gangs, CCTV sabotage 2024 14-17 Interstate syndicates enter Odisha 2025 15-19 Armed hold-ups, uprooting operations 2026* 11 SUVs ripping out entire ATM machines Total (2016-August 2026): More than 125 incidents Why SBI ATMs Are Targeted the Most Among all banks, State Bank of India (SBI) has emerged as the biggest victim. Compiled data indicate that over 65% of reported ATM robberies in Odisha involved SBI kiosks. The reasons are largely structural rather than operational. SBI operates the largest ATM network across Odisha. A significant number of kiosks are located in rural and semi-urban areas. Several outlets function without round-the-clock security guards. Many kiosks are located close to highways, allowing criminals quick escape routes. Remote locations often suffer from delayed police response. Besides SBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and India1 ATMs have also figured prominently among targeted kiosks. How ATM Loot Methods Have Evolved The evolution of ATM robberies mirrors the growing sophistication of organised crime. 2016-2018: Criminals mainly relied on crowbars, cutters and physical force to break open cash trays. 2019-2021: Industrial gas cutters became the preferred weapon. In several cases, gangs even used crude bombs to blast open ATM kiosks. 2022 onwards: Criminals shifted to uprooting entire ATM machines using stolen vehicles, auto-rickshaws and heavy machinery. 2026 has witnessed perhaps the most dramatic transformation. Instead of spending 20-30 minutes cutting open the machine on site, gangs now use powerful SUVs to yank the entire ATM out of its foundation within two to three minutes, drag it to an isolated location and break it open later. The July 2026 Balasore case, where a gang allegedly used a Mahindra Thar to uproot an ATM, exemplifies this changing modus operandi. Meanwhile, many gangs have also begun: spray-painting CCTV cameras, wearing identical masks and gloves, using stolen vehicles, conducting reconnaissance through online mapping tools, escaping rapidly via NH-16 and NH-49 before police can establish checkpoints. Police Detection Still Trails Criminal Innovation While Odisha Police have cracked several high-profile ATM robbery cases through CCTV analysis, cyber tracking and interstate coordination, the overall detection rate remains modest. Only about 30% of ATM loot cases have been solved, according to data available. Successful investigations have largely been confined to cases where: CCTV footage remained intact, forensic teams reached quickly, mobile tower dumps yielded leads, interstate police coordinated immediately. However, a majority of cases continue to remain unresolved because gangs frequently: flee across state borders, use stolen vehicles, conceal identities, destroy surveillance evidence, operate during narrow late-night windows. Although Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar record a significantly better detection rate than many district police units, organised interstate gangs continue to exploit jurisdictional delays after crossing into neighbouring states. 2026: Bhubaneswar Accounts for Three ATM Attacks Of the 11 ATM loot and major break-in attempts reported in Odisha till August 2026, three have occurred in Bhubaneswar. These include: January's failed Canara Bank ATM gas-cutter attempt at Ghatikia. The Lingaraj area ATM robbery that was later solved by Commissionerate Police. Tuesday's failed SBI ATM break-in on the city's outskirts (Balianta), after which the miscreants allegedly stole two motorcycles and vandalised nearby vehicles while fleeing. The remaining eight incidents have largely been reported from highway-linked districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam and Cuttack rural. Why ATMs Continue to Be Soft Targets Security experts believe multiple structural weaknesses continue to favour criminals. First, thousands of ATMs still operate without night guards. Second, several kiosks lack live monitoring linked directly to police control rooms. Third, many cash vaults do not have GPS-enabled tracking devices that could help trace stolen machines. Fourth, isolated highway locations allow gangs to escape quickly into neighbouring states before police can mount coordinated operations. Finally, delays in interstate coordination often enable professional gangs from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand to disappear before investigators can build actionable leads. What Needs to Change Experts suggest Odisha can significantly reduce ATM robberies through a combination of technology, infrastructure and policing reforms. These include: mandatory GPS tracking for ATM vaults, AI-enabled CCTV systems directly linked to police control rooms, geo-fencing alerts whenever an ATM is physically moved, anti-drag anchoring mechanisms that prevent uprooting, dedicated highway anti-property crime squads, faster interstate intelligence sharing, deployment of security guards at high-risk kiosks. Unless these measures are implemented comprehensively, security analysts warn that the combination of high cash availability, easy access and a nearly 70% probability of escaping detection will continue to make Odisha's ATMs lucrative jackpots for organised criminal gangs. Also Read: How Three Crime Syndicates Turned Balasore into Odisha's Fastest Growing Firearms Hub; Why Police Still Playing Catch-Up| Special Report