Manohar Lal reviews Odisha's urban and power sectors; 400 e-buses approved for Odisha under PM e-Bus Sewa
On 23 March 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Union Minister Manohar Lal reviewed Odisha's urban development and power sector; the Centre has approved 400 electric buses for Odisha under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme.
Summary
On 23 March 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal reviewed the State's power sector and urban development projects with State officials. He called for developing Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Khordha as growth hubs, and noted that the Centre has approved 400 electric buses for Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Scheme; a proposal for 50,000 new houses under PMAY-Urban 2.0 was also discussed. In the power review, the State said Odisha has 20 GW of operational coal-based thermal capacity, with another 10 GW in the pipeline over the next 5–6 years, and the Minister encouraged more pit-head thermal plants.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 23 Mar 2025, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Minister
- Manohar Lal (Housing & Urban Affairs; Power)
- E-buses
- 400 for Odisha under PM e-Bus Sewa
- Growth hubs
- Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Khordha
- PMAY-U 2.0
- Proposal for 50,000 houses discussed
- Thermal power
- 20 GW coal-based operational; 10 GW more in pipeline (5–6 years)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
How many electric buses has the Centre approved for Odisha under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, as noted at Manohar Lal's review in Bhubaneswar on 23 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 400
PIB (23 Mar 2025): the Central Government has approved the deployment of 400 electric buses for Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Scheme.
At the power sector review with Manohar Lal on 23 March 2025, how much operational coal-based thermal power capacity did the Odisha Government say the State has?
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Correct answer: D — 20 GW
PIB (23 Mar 2025): the State Government informed that Odisha currently has 20 GW of operational coal-based thermal power capacity, with an additional 10 GW in the pipeline.
Manohar Lal called for developing four Odisha urban centres as growth hubs on 23 March 2025. Which of the following was NOT one of them?
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Correct answer: C — Rourkela
PIB (23 Mar 2025): the Minister emphasised developing Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Khordha as growth hubs; Rourkela was not named, so Rourkela is NOT one of them.