Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet today approved the proposal for establishment of Odisha Maritime Board for overall maritime development of the state.

The statutory body will deal with administration, control and management of non-major ports and non-nationalised inland waterways of the state. The board will provide policy guidelines and directions for the integrated development of ports and inland water transport keeping in view the country's security and defence-related concerns.

Salient features of the board shall be to provide construction, maintenance and operation of all non-major ports in the state directly or through PPP mode. As many as 12 members, with the Chief Secretary being the Chairperson, along with representatives of stakeholders departments as well as representatives of Government of India will constitute the board.

The Cabinet also decided to implement the recommendations of Justice B.P. Das Commission regarding safety and security of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. Structures within 75-metre radius of the temple will be cleared to facilitate free movement of pilgrims and visitors, and ensure safety of the temple.

Financial restructuring of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) was another major decision at the Cabinet meeting. With the move, old dues of OSRTC and Odisha Government will be settled. OSRTC will have the option to approach financial institutions for taking up commercially viable projects for better passenger amenities.

It was also decided by the Cabinet that stamp duty and registration fees on gift deed of land measuring 11.56 acres along with building standing on it in Birakishorepur Mouza of Cuttack district will be executed in favour of Gopabandhu Science College, Athagarh. The fully-aided college, which was established in 1963, has no building and land of its own. It had been running in the palace building of land belonging to erstwhile Athagarh royal family since 1978.

The Cabinet also nodded amendment to the existing provision of Rule-6(4) of Odisha Police Service (Method of Recruitment and Condition of Service) Rule, 2013 aimed to eliminate the constraints therein and facilitate to get eligible OPS officers for filling up the posts of Superior Administrative Grade in OPS cadre for efficient and smooth police administration.