TNI Bureau: In a significant boost to international connectivity for Odisha, VFS Global will open a visa application centre in Bhubaneswar from April 1, 2026. The announcement was made by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who expressed delight at the long-awaited development.

The new centre will provide world-class, convenient and efficient visa facilitation services to residents of Odisha, who previously had to travel to Kolkata to complete visa formalities. The move is expected to save both time and travel costs, while enhancing international mobility and global connectivity for students, professionals and business travellers from the state.

Pradhan stated that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of improving ease of living. He also thanked External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and VFS Global CEO Zubin Karkaria for supporting the proposal.

The centre is also expected to generate local employment opportunities and strengthen Odisha’s global engagement.