Following is an excerpt from a report in New Indian Express.

The State Government will open 159 more tehsils in a bid to take administration to the doorstep of the people.

This was decided at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The new tehsils will be opened in a phased manner over the next three years.

… Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal said 45 additional tehsils will be upgraded to full-fledged ones within the current fiscal while three new ones will be opened in each of the revenue divisions.

This will cost an additional Rs 1 cr to the State ex-chequer for opening a new tehsil. While 60 new tehsils will be opened in the first phase, 50 and 49 new ones will come up in the second and third phase.

Samal said more than one tehsils will be opened in urban areas having heavy population. The number of tehsils in the State will increase to 330 with the new additions.

The Chief Minister advised the officials to expedite the selection of employees and location of infrastructure for office purposes for the new tehsils.