Odisha to Introduce AI in Tender Management to Speed Up Infrastructure Projects

Bhubaneswar: In a major digital reform, the Odisha Government is set to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Works Department’s tender management system, aiming to streamline the bidding process, enhance transparency, and fast-track project execution. The announcement was made by Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Monday.

Harichandan said that the entire tender evaluation process—from bid submission to project commencement—will soon be fully automated and conducted online through AI-based software. This move is expected to cut down the bid evaluation period from the current 2 to 2.5 months to just one week, significantly reducing delays in infrastructure development.

“With this AI-enabled system, services will reach people faster, and delays in project execution will be minimised,” the Minister said. He added that this reform would bring greater transparency and efficiency to government construction projects.

To support the rollout, the department has already initiated technical discussions with a research team to finalise the AI roadmap. The proposed system will handle multiple aspects, including bid evaluation, comparison of technical and financial bids, selection of responsive bids, and real-time monitoring of the entire tender process.

Until now, these tasks were handled manually, often resulting in 4 to 5-month delays between the completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and the actual commencement of work.

In another key decision, the government will now require external contractors to register in the Odisha Contractor Database before being allowed to execute any government work. This measure aims to improve oversight and ensure only verified entities are involved in state projects. A final decision on this mandate is expected soon.

The Works Department is also developing a Project Monitoring Dashboard to provide real-time updates on project progress and strengthen accountability. Additionally, the existing e-procurement system will be upgraded to bring more clarity and control over the bidding and work allotment processes.

These initiatives mark a significant step towards digitising governance and accelerating infrastructure growth in Odisha.