All Odisha government buildings will soon be painted saffron.
The Odisha government under Mohan Majhi has implemented a standardized color scheme for public buildings in the state. Exterior walls will be painted orange, while red will be used for borders.
Arpit Pattnaik
The public buildings in Odisha will soon be painted saffron, following the Bharatiya Janata Party's first-ever solo government in the state. This color will replace the green that has long been associated with the Biju Janata Dal's rule on many state infrastructures.
On October 7, 2024, Odisha's Works Department announced a uniform color code for all government buildings. The exterior walls will be painted with an orange shade, and the borders of the buildings will be in red.
In a letter to all engineering heads, the Works Department stated that the government has approved the adoption of the new color code for all new government buildings, as well as for existing ones during periodic repair and renovation works.
The decision immediately sparked a political controversy, with the principal BJD criticizing the choice of color as a reflection of the narrow mindset of the BJP government. The BJD spokesperson, Lenin Mohanty, stated that the government has failed to fulfill promises made to the people of Odisha and accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from its failures by focusing on a change in color and name, which he deemed as a waste of public funds and time.
Previously, the BJP had criticized the previous Naveen Patnaik government for its extensive use of the color green in public buildings. Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister and now the Leader of Opposition, accused the BJP government of merely changing names and colors without making substantial changes.
