Biz on Wheels
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to elevate street vending by providing pushcarts to vendors. Traditionally, the BMC would guide vendors to designated zones for selling their goods. This time, however, they have gone the extra mile—literally, thanks to the carts. Vendors can now move around in style, feeling like entrepreneurs on wheels. The initiative has earned praise from vendors, customers, and pedestrians alike.
Stormy Effect
The capital recently received a dramatic wake-up call from a fierce nor'wester that seemed to target specific areas. The storm struck the central parts of the city, uprooting trees, tossing roadside shops, and giving parked vehicles a free "denting-painting" session. Interestingly, the outskirts, especially Patia, were spared. Residents there continued their daily routines, completely unaware of the chaos downtown—until news and photos of flattened trees broke the calm.
Goodie Bag?
A yellow bag near Chief Minister Mohan Majhi's seat inside the helicopter, which was forced to land in Puri due to inclement weather in Bhubaneswar, sparked curiosity among netizens. Many played detective to guess its contents. One user remarked, "Majhi is a people's CM and lives like a common man. Just as we carry vegetables, groceries, or fruits, he too might have brought organic vegetables from Mayurbhanj." Another guessed, "He might have brought mangoes." A young woman wrote, "It could be Raja Bhara, a gift from relatives for the Raja Mahotsav."
What's in a Name!
Cuttack will now be officially known as Kataka, following the last Cabinet decision. Historians and language enthusiasts are delighted. The ancient city has reclaimed a spelling closer to its historical roots, a move many residents have welcomed. Yet, amid the celebrations, some have posed an uncomfortable question—will the new spelling also help clear traffic at Badambadi or drain rainwater from waterlogged streets? For years, residents have navigated clogged roads, overflowing drains, and monsoon flooding with admirable patience. Now they wonder whether civic problems can also be corrected through a change in spelling.
