THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
APRIL 1, 2026
Reinforcing Odisha’s
growing global engagement and commitment to citizen-centric governance, Chief
Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Wednesday inaugurated a new Visa Application Centre
operated by VFS Global in Bhubaneswar, marking a major step toward improving
access to international visa services for residents of the state.
Speaking at the
inauguration, the Chief Minister said the establishment of the centre reflects
Odisha’s expanding global connectivity and the government’s focus on delivering
convenient public services. He noted that easier access to visa facilities will
significantly enhance travel convenience, promote industry and tourism, and
strengthen international engagement opportunities for citizens.
Majhi highlighted
that there had long been a growing demand for a dedicated visa application
centre in Odisha, as applicants previously had to travel to Kolkata to complete
visa formalities. Responding to this need, the State Government requested
support from the Centre, which extended full cooperation under the leadership
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, enabling the facility to be established in
Bhubaneswar.
The state-of-the-art
centre has been set up within approximately 3,000 square feet of space provided
by the State Government at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Bus Terminal in Baramunda. Initially,
visa processing services will be available for 10 countries, including the
United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Japan,
Morocco and Egypt, with plans to expand coverage to additional nations in the
future.
The facility is
designed to deliver a seamless and efficient visa application experience. VFS
Global currently provides visa services for 53 countries in India through a
network of over 560 application centres across 20 cities. Founded and led by
Zubin Karkaria, the company has grown into the world’s largest provider of visa
and consular services, serving 70 governments across 167 countries with a focus
on secure technology and innovation-driven solutions.
Operating more than
4,000 application centres worldwide, VFS Global has processed over 537 million
applications since 2001, supporting governments and diplomatic missions by
managing administrative aspects of visa, passport, and consular services,
allowing authorities to focus on critical decision-making functions.
The inauguration of
the Bhubaneswar centre represents another important milestone in strengthening
infrastructure for global mobility, improving accessibility for citizens, and
positioning Odisha as an increasingly connected destination in the global landscape.
Senior officials,
including embassy representatives from Austria, Italy and Switzerland,
Government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan, Home Department ACS Hemant Sharma, ACS to
CM Saswat Mishra, and COO, South Asia, Yummi Talwar, were present on the
occasion.
