HCLTech's ₹15,000 Crore Bhubaneswar Hub and Suna Besha's Massive Turnout Lead Odisha's Week
Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar is at the centre of two major stories this week: a transformative tech investment that could reshape the state's economy, and the religious fervour of Suna Besha 2026 drawing enormous crowds toward Puri.
🏢 HCL and Sarvam AI to Build ₹15,000 Crore Data Centre in Bhubaneswar
HCL Technologies and Sarvam AI have announced plans to establish a global delivery centre and AI data centre in Bhubaneswar, with the combined investment estimated at approximately ₹15,000 crore, according to orissapost.com. The project is being called a major inflection point for Odisha's technology sector, which has historically been overshadowed by Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. Odisha TV and Business Standard separately confirmed that HCLTech's component of the investment, valued at around ₹730 crore specifically for an AI hub, would be the company's first data centre built within India. The Sarvam AI partnership adds an artificial intelligence dimension to what is already a substantial infrastructure play. The announcement follows Odisha's efforts to position Bhubaneswar as a Tier-2 technology destination, with land and infrastructure incentives aimed at drawing major IT employers. The deal is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the capital region over the project's build-out period. [3]
🪔 Suna Besha 2026 Draws Massive Crowds on Bhubaneswar-Puri Highway
Suna Besha 2026, one of the most celebrated rituals of the Jagannath tradition, drew a massive rush of devotees on the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway as pilgrims traveled to witness Lord Jagannath adorned in gold, according to prameyanews.com. Suna Besha — literally 'golden attire' — is among the most visually spectacular events in the Jagannath calendar, occurring once a year when the deity is dressed in gold ornaments weighing several hundred kilograms in total. Lakhs of devotees are estimated to have made the journey from Bhubaneswar and surrounding districts to catch a glimpse of the divinity during this rare ritual. The highway saw significant congestion as a result, with traffic management deployed across multiple checkpoints. For Odisha's Hindu community, Suna Besha is among the most anticipated religious events of the year, drawing visitors from across the state as well as from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. [5]
🗳️ Ex-IAS Officer VK Pandian Summoned by Bhubaneswar Police
Former Indian Administrative Service officer V.K. Pandian, once considered among the most influential figures in Odisha's political landscape as a close aide to former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been asked to appear before Bhubaneswar Police in connection with a case, according to The Economic Times. Pandian's name had been prominent in political circles during the BJD-led government's tenure, and his summons by police marks another development in the post-election scrutiny of figures associated with the previous administration. The BJP-led government that assumed power in Odisha after the 2024 elections has overseen several accountability actions involving officials from the Patnaik-era administration. Pandian, a Tamil Nadu-origin IAS officer who voluntarily retired to join political service under Naveen Patnaik, subsequently attempted to re-enter civil services but remains a contested figure in Odisha's political conversation. [6]
Sources: [3] orissapost.com · [5] prameyanews.com · [6] The Economic Times