Union Budget 2026: Odisha CM Mohan Majhi praises infra, waterway push; Naveen Patnaik expresses disappointment

The Mohan Charan Majhi-led Odisha government on Sunday (February 1, 2026) welcomed the Union Budget 2026-27 saying the “historic” Budget under visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will drive the country towards development while all sections of society would be benefited by several schemes.

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Congratulating Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting Budget 2026-27 for the record 9^th time, Mr. Majhi said the Budget has earmarked fund of ₹12.20 lakh crore for infrastructure development which will trigger employments for youths and catapult India to the position of third largest economy of world.

In the Union Budget, the name of Odisha was mentioned thrice for rare earth corridors, operationalisation of National Waterway-5 in Odisha to connect the mineral-rich regions of Talcher and Angul and industrial centres such as Kalinga Nagar with the ports and Turtle Trails along key nesting sites in the coastal areas of Odisha.

“Odisha has been given emphasis in rare earth corridor scheme. This has also been focus of Odisha government during its scouts for investment in Utkarsh Odisha conclave and investors’ summit in other States. Odisha has 575-km coastline which is rich in rare earth material. Odisha will be benefited in the new programme, contributing India’s growth,” said Mr. Majhi addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Sunday (February 1, 2026).

Odisha will also be benefited by proposed development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur, creation of five tourism destinations in the five Purvodaya States, and the provision of 4,000 e-buses.

“It has been proposed to operationalise 20 new National Waterways (NW) over next five years, starting with NW-5 in Odisha to connect mineral rich areas of Talcher and Angul and industrial centres such as Kalinga Nagar to the Ports of Paradeep and Dhamra. This is environment friendly and smoothen transport of minerals to ports,” said Odisha CM.

“Union Budget 2026-27 announces the development of Turtle Trails in coastal Odisha, creating ecologically sustainable pathways at key turtle nesting sites, promoting conservation, eco-tourism, and local livelihoods. It is a welcome step,” he pointed out.

Expressing disappointment over the Union Budget 2026, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly and former CM Naveen Patnaik said the Budget offered no noteworthy benefits to the State and its people.

“As seen from the entirety of the Union Budget, Odisha is getting allocations only for taking its natural resources away and completely ignored when it comes to resource allocation for benefit of people of the State,” Mr. Patnaik wrote on ‘X’.

“It is a huge disappointment for the people of Odisha that the announcement to develop seven High-Speed Rail corridors between cities as ‘growth connectors’ does not feature Odisha,” he pointed out.

“And it is quite baffling that the Tourism centric Scheme for Development of Buddhist Circuits has completely skipped Odisha despite having several very important Buddhist sites including our Diamond Triangle. It is time the State BJP government takes responsibility for people of Odisha and ensure they get their rightful dues from Centre,” said Mr. Patnaik.