Odisha gears up for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Over 3,700 rooms booked for NRIs

Bhubaneswar, Dec 10: The Odisha government is making extensive preparations for the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention, which will take place in the state capital from January 8 to 10.

To ensure a successful event, the government plans to offer home-stay options and hotel accommodations for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) attending the convention. The Odisha Tourism department has reserved 200 hotels, providing over 3,700 rooms in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri, as noted by Tourism Secretary Balwant Singh.

In preparation for hosting the NRIs, local families have received training in guest management and safety protocols, aiming to offer visitors a genuine taste of Odisha’s culture and hospitality. To combat issues related to cyber fraud in hotel bookings, delegates have been encouraged to secure their accommodations through a dedicated website, ‘https://pbdindia.gov.in.’ The tourism department has also shared hotel details with the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure delegates' safety.

For those interested in exploring local attractions, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has prepared tour packages to 30 selected destinations, including Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, Chilika-Satapada, and Raghurajpur crafts village.

Additionally, a 'Bhumi Pujan' ceremony was held at Janata Maidan to kick off preparations for the three-day event. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasized that this is the first time since the inception of the PBD convention in 2003 that Odisha will host this significant gathering.