Smart Move: CM Launches Odyssey City Card

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched a common city payment card system, ‘The Odyssey City Card’ for Bhubaneswar.

A joint initiative of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited and ICICI Bank, the card will facilitate payment transactions for services across the city. The services include shopping, city bus, recreation, parking and utility payments like property tax.

The Chief Minister also launched My Odyssey Centres that will facilitate payment services for citizens. Of the total 325 centres, 25 were opened in the first phase.

At the launch ceremony organised at the State Secretariat here, Naveen said that this card system reflects the journey of the heritage city of Bhubaneswar into a modern urban centre and the endeavour of the government to transform it into a Smart City through technology.

He further said that this initiative would help in positioning Bhubaneswar as a premier ‘Sports City’ during the upcoming Hockey Men’s World Cup.

The first Odyssey City Card was presented to the Chief Minister at the function.

“We are delighted to associate with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited to bring forth the card. This new proposition aims at offering unparalleled convenience to nearly 1 million residents of Bhubaneswar and is a significant step towards transforming it into a Smart City. This is a testament to our constant efforts at creating a less cash ecosystem across the country, thereby encouraging our customers to adopt to digital modes of making payments. We look forward to more such collaborations with the Odisha Government to co-create solutions that offer flexibility and convenience to our valued customers,” said Executive Director, ICICI Bank, Anup Bagchi.

The meeting was attended by MLA Bijoy Mohanty, MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, BMC Mayor Anant Narayan Jena, Development Commissioner, Executive Director of the ICICI Bank and senior officers of the government and BMC.

Naveen also inaugurated the Odisha Travel Bazaar in Bhubaneswar.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, “I am delighted to be here today to attend the 2nd Edition of Odisha Travel Bazaar. I thank the Odisha Tourism and FICCI for this initiative to promote Tourism in Odisha, the Soul of India. Odisha is a fascinating state with multifaceted tourism destinations. The state is lavishly gifted and marvellously endowed with a plethora of natural sites which spellbound each and every visitor visiting this mystic land to unravel the beauty of the state.”