Bhubaneswar, 3 December (H.S.) : The Odisha government has unveiled an ambitious plan to construct 58 new cold storage units at the sub-division level, backed by an investment of ₹252 crore, in a bid to boost the state’s capacity to store perishable produce and curb post-harvest losses.

Replying to a question in the State Assembly, Public Works Department Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan informed that Odisha currently has 133 cold storage facilities, but only 35 of them are fully functional. Of these, 33 are privately operated while just two are run by the government—highlighting a substantial gap between existing infrastructure and actual operational capacity.

The Minister noted that 26 cold storages have been added in the past decade, of which 22 are operational and four remain idle. Overall, 98 of the 133 units across the state are non-functional, including 20 government-owned and 78 private facilities. This, he said, underscores the urgent need for improved maintenance, monitoring, and support systems.

To address these challenges, the state government plans to strengthen cold-chain infrastructure by offering both technical and financial assistance to operators and ensuring effective utilisation of resources.

Once established, the new cold storages are expected to significantly benefit farmers, traders, and the agricultural supply chain by preserving produce quality, extending shelf life, and minimising wastage of fruits, vegetables, and other perishable commodities across Odisha.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda