Odisha to launch e-biz portal for ease of doing business

BHUBANESWAR: In a step towards ease of doing business, the Odisha government is all set to launch a portal ‘e-biz’ with an aim to minimise physical interfaces and give approvals online to the investors.

Odisha will be the first state in the country where 15 services required by the entrepreneurs can be applied and the applications disposed of online.

“The services relate to water resources, commercial taxes, pollution control board consent for which fees can be paid, and the approvals received online. The number of services may go up”, said Sanjiv Chopra, state industries secretary.

The portal e-biz will be launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on February 14 in Mumbai.

Odisha government is taking conscious steps to improve its ranking in the on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Index and eyed to place among top three states in the country.

Odisha was ranked seventh in a recent World Bank report on ‘Ease of Doing Business’.

The Odisha government has already set up a special entity to fast track approvals for investment projects at Ipicol. The new entity christened State Level Facilitation Cell (SLFC) is mandated to clear investment proposals in 15-30 days.