Odisha’s third Doppler radar expands severe-weather monitoring across western districts as 50 projects move forward
GTNS
SEPTEMBER 17, 2026
SAMBALPUR, ODISHA — Odisha has expanded its weather-monitoring and regional infrastructure network with the inauguration of a new Doppler Weather Radar in Sambalpur, alongside the launch and foundation-laying of development projects worth around ₹960 crore.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the radar and unveiled the project package during a programme in Sambalpur, bringing disaster preparedness and regional infrastructure development into focus.
The Sambalpur installation is Odisha’s third Doppler Weather Radar, adding to the facilities already operating at Paradip and Gopalpur.
A NEW LAYER OF WEATHER MONITORING
The radar is expected to strengthen surveillance of weather systems affecting western Odisha by providing more detailed information on rainfall and severe weather conditions.
Its coverage will benefit a number of districts across the region and is expected to support earlier warnings for events such as heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and other weather disturbances.
The additional data can also assist authorities in disaster preparedness as well as water-resource management, including monitoring conditions relevant to the Hirakud reservoir.
₹960 CRORE IN PROJECTS
The radar inauguration was accompanied by a substantial infrastructure programme covering 50 projects with a combined value of about ₹960 crore.
Of these, 15 completed projects worth ₹133.47 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for another 35 projects estimated at ₹825.83 crore.
The projects span several sectors, including roads and buildings, irrigation, healthcare, rural development and sports infrastructure.
SAMBALPUR’S BROADER DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT
The new infrastructure comes against the backdrop of continuing development activity in the Sambalpur region, represented in Parliament by Dharmendra Pradhan, former Union Minister and Sambalpur MP.
While Pradhan was not present at the programme, the projects form part of the wider development landscape of his parliamentary constituency, particularly in areas such as connectivity, irrigation and public infrastructure.
STRENGTHENING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
For Odisha, the Sambalpur radar represents more than an additional weather facility. It adds another source of real-time atmospheric information to a state that has placed considerable emphasis on early warnings and disaster preparedness.
The state has also outlined plans for additional Doppler radar facilities at Balasore, Bhubaneswar and Puri, which would further strengthen Odisha’s weather-observation network.
With the Sambalpur radar and the ₹960 crore project package unveiled together, the programme combined technology-led disaster preparedness with physical infrastructure development across western Odisha.