New Delhi: Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed disappointment over the Union Budget 2026 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying it has fallen short of expectations for the people of Odisha.
Posting on the social media platform X, Patnaik stated that the budget does not offer significant benefits to Odisha and its residents. He added that the people of Odisha had hoped the double-engine government would focus on boosting infrastructure, generating employment, and increasing the state’s allocations to accelerate development. However, the state has received very little in this budget.
Patnaik welcomed the proposal to establish a rare earth corridor in Odisha, highlighting the state’s leading role in the production of key minerals and its ongoing contribution to nation-building through its rich resources. He noted that the budget repeated the announcement of creating national waterways to connect mineral-rich and industrial areas with ports—a proposal that has been around for over a decade but has yet to see progress on the ground.
The former chief minister further expressed disappointment that Odisha was excluded from the plan to develop seven high-speed rail corridors as ‘growth connectors’ between cities. He also criticized the BJP for previously halting the Bhubaneswar Metro project and overlooking the needs of the people. Patnaik found it surprising that Odisha was completely left out of the tourism-focused development plan for the Buddhist circuit, despite having several important Buddhist sites, including the Diamond Triangle.
He added that the budget appears to allocate resources to Odisha primarily for the extraction of its natural resources, while ignoring allocations that directly benefit the people of the state. Patnaik called on the state BJP government to take responsibility and ensure that Odisha receives its rightful share from the Centre. He concluded by saying that Odisha and its people deserve much better from the Union Budget.
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