Odisha to Set Up Visa Application Centre at BSABT, BDA Signs Agreements to Develop Integrated Hub

Bhubaneswar: In a major step toward enhancing visa services in Odisha, the state government on Monday signed a tripartite agreement for the establishment of a Visa Application Centre (VAC) at the Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bus Terminal (BSABT) in Baramunda.

The agreement was signed between Soumendra Patra, Additional Secretary of the Home Department; Manas Ranjan Padhi, Secretary of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA); and Viney John, Associate Vice-President (Administration, South Asia) of VFS Global.

The proposed centre will be developed within the BSABT premises, with the state government allocating around 3,000 square feet of space. Currently, residents of Odisha have to travel to cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, or Hyderabad to access visa services. The new facility is expected to eliminate the need for such travel, making the process more convenient and accessible locally. The initiative follows directions issued by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in December to set up a Visa Application Centre in the state.

In a parallel development, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority also signed an agreement with the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) to lease vacant space within the terminal. The agreement was formalised by Manas Ranjan Padhi and Mili Samantaray, Administrative Officer of OCAC, in the presence of senior officials.

Under this arrangement, BDA will lease approximately 77,000 square feet of space across two floors to OCAC, which will further allocate it to IT and ITeS companies. The initiative is aimed at transforming the terminal into a multi-functional hub by integrating transport, public services, and technology.

BDA Vice-Chairman Chanchal Rana said the BSABT is set to evolve into a combined transport and business hub, accommodating IT and ITeS firms alongside the upcoming Visa Application Centre. He added that the increased footfall is expected to benefit vendors and other stakeholders operating within the terminal.

Spread across 11 acres, BSABT is the largest bus terminal in Odisha, handling over 1,500 buses and nearly 20,000 passengers daily across inter-state and intra-state routes, making it a crucial transit hub in the state.