Bhubaneswar (Odisha Tazanews) :- The All-Odisha Contractors’ Welfare Association (AOCWA) successfully organised its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026 today at the Institution of Engineers, Bhubaneswar, with participation from contractors, public representatives, legal experts, media personalities, and stakeholders from across Odisha. The AGM focused on the major issues affecting the contractor fraternity, infrastructure quality, public interest, pending payments, tender policy reforms, and the future roadmap of the Association.
During the AGM, a new committee of AOCWA was also formed unanimously for a period of three years to strengthen the organisation and expand its activities across Odisha. The newly formed committee resolved to work collectively for contractor welfare, policy advocacy, quality infrastructure development, and organisational expansion.
The newly formed committee comprises of Jagadish Patra, President; Anshul Patel, Vice President; Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, General Secretary; Asoka Kumar Tarai, Treasurer; Debasish Dash, Jyoti Ranjan Behera , Susant Kumar Nayak, and Sanjaya Kumar Jena as Joint Secretary; Anup Kumar Panda, Jayant Kumar Swain, Bapina Kumar Santi, Saubhagya Mohapatra, Manoj Kumar Nayak , and Kapil Chhapola as Executive Members.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Jagadish Patra, President, AOCWA, stated that despite repeated assurances from the Government regarding fulfilment of the demands raised by the contractor fraternity during the agitation in February, the Association has still not received the required Government notification on key issues.
He reminded that AOCWA had withdrawn its strike and agitation movement in good faith after the Government assured that the demands of contractors would be positively considered and resolved in the interest of Odisha’s infrastructure ecosystem. However, even after several months, the contractor community continues to face uncertainty and hardship.
The Association once again appealed through the respected MLAs and public representatives present at the AGM to intervene and ensure early fulfilment of the commitments made to the contractor fraternity. The AGM was attended by distinguished guests including Shri Irasis Acharya, MLA; Shri Ramesh Chandra Jena, MLA; Shri Babu Singh, MLA; Shri Priyadarshi Mishra; and Shri Jagannath Pradhan, who addressed the gathering and assured support towards resolving genuine concerns of contractors and strengthening Odisha’s infrastructure development ecosystem.
The second session focused extensively on contractors’ issues, policy challenges, pending payments, legal support, and organisational strengthening. Eminent personalities including Shri Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Shri P.K. Swain (Retd. WATCO CEO), Shri Prabodha Chandra Nayak (High Court Advocate), Shri Sandeep Mishra (Group Editor), Shri Dilip Patel (Senior Contractor), and Shri Sakyasingha Mahapatra (Entrepreneur & Anti-Corruption Voice) shared their views on governance, infrastructure quality, transparency, contractor protection, and sustainable development.
During the Open House Discussion, contractors from different districts highlighted several pressing concerns, including:
* Pending contractor payments
* Tender policy reforms and irrational under-quoting
* Financial stress and operational challenges
* Legal and administrative difficulties
* Need for transparency and contractor protection
* Quality infrastructure and public accountability
* Need for stronger policy consultation with stakeholders
AOCWA strongly reiterated that all genuine grievances and issues reported by contractors before the Association would be taken seriously, and all possible support and assistance would be extended in the interest of the contractor fraternity.
The Association also announced that it will organise the Annual “Odisha Infrastructure Conclave” next month, bringing together policymakers, administrators, industry leaders, contractors, engineers, and stakeholders to deliberate on the future of infrastructure development in Odisha and strengthen constructive dialogue between Government and the infrastructure ecosystem. The AGM concluded with a vote of thanks, networking lunch, and a press interaction with media representatives.
