Bhubaneswar: Shri Balwant Singh, 2007-batch IAS officer will head the Odisha State Highway Authority(OSHA). Shri Singh is currently serving as the Commissioner-cum-Secretary for the Tourism Department. Shri Singh will continue to hold the additional charge of Chairperson for the Stat Highway Authority.
This appointment comes as the state government outlines an ambitious roadmap to develop 70,000 kilometers of highways across the region. The initiative aims to enhance connectivity and support economic growth by streamlining the management of major transit corridors.
While Shri Singh remains the Chairperson, a previous notification from February 2026 regarding his designation as the Managing Director of the same body has been formally cancelled to align with the current administrative structure.
The focus on such a massive scale of road construction underscores the state’s commitment to modernizing its transport network. By keeping the leadership under an experienced officer who also manages the tourism portfolio, the government likely intends to create better synergy between infrastructure development and the accessibility of key tourist destinations within Odisha.
The Government of Odisha’s General Administration and Public Grievance Department issued a notification today, March 31, 2026, regarding other key administrative reassignments and additional charges for senior IAS officers.
Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, a 1999-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Government for the Forests, Environment and Climate Change Department. He will also continue to hold the additional charge of CMD at OPTCL. Consequently, his previous additional responsibility as Chairman of the Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited has been terminated.
In a related move, Shri R. Santhanagopalan, a 2001-batch IAS officer currently serving as the Chief Electoral Officer and Ex-officio Principal Secretary for the Home (Elections) Department, has been given additional charges. He will now also serve as the Principal Secretary for the Excise Department and as the Chairman of the Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited.