Odisha CM Targets BJD-Era Outsourcing Practices In Engineering Works
Key Points
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has ordered a full audit of outsourced engineering work in Odisha over the past 10 years, aiming to reduce reliance on private agencies and restore confidence in government engineers.
Bhubaneswar, June 25: In a bold move aimed at restoring transparency and accountability in public works, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has launched a sweeping review of outsourcing practices in government engineering workforce entrenched during the previous BJD government.
Questioning the rationale behind hiring private agencies for core engineering tasks despite the presence of capable government engineers, Chief Minister has asked Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja to submit a comprehensive report within a month, detailing all outsourced projects over the past 10 years-- including the departments involved, the agencies hired, the nature of work, and the financial outlay involved in these assignments.
The Chief Minister also sought to determine whether the departments or other state government agencies had the capability to carry out the same work themselves, and what steps—such as training and acquiring modern equipment—would be necessary to strengthen their ability to do so in-house.
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✨CM Majhi also criticized the trend as an “unhealthy tradition” that has eroded the credibility of government engineers and inflated project costs. He emphasized the need to empower internal departments with training and modern tools to reclaim their technical responsibilities.
The move is seen as a direct challenge to the outsourcing model institutionalized under the previous BJD government.
Meanwhile, the All Odisha Contractors’ Association has expressed support for CM Majhi’s initiative, calling it a step toward restoring transparency and efficiency in public works.