Odisha govt reduces timeline to provide better services through e-biz portal

BHUBANESWAR: In another significant step towards ease of doing business in Odisha, the e-biz portal launched for online delivery of services to the investors have been shortened, simplified and made more user-friendly. Besides, timeline fixed earlier has further been reduced for delivery of various services.

Chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has directed all the concerned departments to ensure physical delivery of services at ground level within the specified time limit without fail.

Padhi gave this direction while presiding over an inter-departmental orientation programme on e-biz held in the conference hall of IPICOL here on Wednesday. Industry secretary Sanjeeb Chopra sensitised the concerned departments about the services identified along with the time line and the processes involved in consideration and finalisation of the applications.

Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan advised making it more sector and service specific for MSMEs.
Chief secretary took a test of various approvals necessary for one MSME unit in the programme itself which was demonstrated successfully.

The available data show, e-biz system has been launched to provide a one-stop platform for all investment and business related services and eliminate the need for a physical interface with various offices. It provides for interdepartmental coordination in data sharing verification and service delivery.

Presently, 14 major services like project evaluation, land allotment, shed allotment in industrial estate, approval of plan and issue of license under Factories Act, registration under Boilers Act, registration of establishments employing contract labour, registration under Shops and Establishment Act, Power connection, consent to establish and operate under Water and Air Acts, registration under VAT, permission for site & building, occupancy certificate, permission to draw water for industrial use and been integrated with e-biz portal.

Timelines fixed earlier for delivery of these services have been reduced further. The timeline for final project approval for an industry within a green category has been limited to 15days. Similarly, the final project approval for industries under all other categories has been reduced from 65 days to 30 days. The reduced timeline set for some other major services is reflected as follows.