Odisha Launches International Visa Centre in Bhubaneswar, Eliminating Kolkata Travel for Residents
In a significant development for global mobility, the people of Odisha will no longer need to travel to Kolkata or other distant cities for visa-related work. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi officially inaugurated a new international visa services centre operated by VFS Global in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, marking a major step toward enhancing citizen convenience and regional connectivity.
A Strategic Move for Global Engagement and Tourism
During the inaugural ceremony, Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that this centre reflects Odisha's growing global connectivity and unwavering commitment to citizen-centric services. He stated that such strategic initiatives not only enhance ease of travel but also actively promote industries, boost tourism, and support international engagement across the state.
The newly-launched centre stands as clear testimony to the increasing demand for convenient and accessible visa services throughout the region. It promises to significantly benefit Odisha residents who previously faced the considerable inconvenience and expense of traveling outside the state simply to submit their visa applications.
Modern Facilities and Initial Service Scope
The Odisha government has allocated approximately 3,000 square feet of prime space within the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Bus Terminal at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar to establish this modern visa processing facility. In its initial operational phase, the centre will cater to visa services for ten key countries:
- The United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Austria
- Estonia
- Italy
- Malta
- Switzerland
- Japan
- Morocco
- Egypt
Chief Minister Majhi confirmed that more countries will be systematically added in the coming days and weeks to substantially expand the range of comprehensive services available to all applicants from Odisha.
VFS Global's Extensive Global Network
VFS Global, the world's leading visa outsourcing and technology services specialist, currently provides visa services on behalf of 53 sovereign countries across India through an extensive network of over 560 visa application centres spanning 20 major cities. Zubin Karkaria, the visionary founder and CEO of VFS Global, highlighted that the organization operates more than 4,000 sophisticated application centres across 167 countries worldwide and has successfully processed over 537 million transactions since its establishment in 2001.
Strengthening Infrastructure for Global Mobility
Official sources emphasized that the inauguration of the Bhubaneswar centre represents another crucial step forward in systematically strengthening infrastructure for global mobility while dramatically improving ease of access for citizens across all districts of Odisha. The event witnessed distinguished participation from embassy officials representing Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, alongside key government figures including Government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (CM) Saswat Mishra, and Yummi Talwar, the Chief Operating Officer of VFS Global for South Asia.
This strategic development positions Bhubaneswar as an emerging hub for international travel facilitation, directly supporting Odisha's economic growth and global integration objectives while providing tangible, time-saving benefits to thousands of prospective travelers annually.
