By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: InventGrid India Pvt Ltd, known as IG Defence/IG Drones, founded by Bodhisatwa Sanghapriya, an Odia startup that was blacklisted for failing to properly deploy drones during the Puri Rath Yatra in 2025 by then Development Commissioner (now Chief Secretary) Anu Garg, has received clearance to establish a Rs 300 crore advanced multi-drone manufacturing centre in Ganjam district.
The approval was granted by the Single Window Clearance Committee, headed by Chief Secretary Anu Garg. In the technology and defence sectors, Inventgrid India Pvt Ltd will establish an Advanced Multi-Drone Manufacturing Centre in Ganjam with a 300 crore investment, creating 1000 jobs.
The 144th State-level Single Window Clearance Authority, chaired by Chief Secretary Garg, was on Wednesday approved 23 industrial investment proposals with a total investment of Rs. 4111.80 crore including this Rs 300 Crore controversial project.
It may be noted here that Odisha government had decided to blacklist M/s Invent Grid India Pvt Ltd (also referred to as InventGrid) due to failures in managing the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) during the Puri Rath Yatra in 2025.
The company had failed to provide adequate services, including effective real-time monitoring using drones and functional AI-based surveillance (CCTV) during the stampede.
Out of 275 installed CCTV cameras, a significant number were non-functional or misaligned, and drones were not effectively utilized to manage the crowd, contributing to the, incident. Serious deficiencies were also exposed in ICCC operations.
In an official communication, the Home (Special Section) Department said the government has accepted the findings of the probe led by the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary (Planning & Coordination), which cited serious lapses in police supervision, poor coordination with the temple administration and failure of the AI-based Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).
Disciplinary action has also been recommended against Commandant Sarada Prasad Dash, who oversaw the ICCC, for failing to alert authorities despite visible crowd congestion on live feeds.
InventGrid India Pvt Ltd, operating under the brand IG Drones, is a leading Indian company founded in 2018 that designs, develops, and deploys advanced unmanned aerial systems for industrial, defence, and agricultural sectors. Based in Bhubaneswar/Noida, they provide high-precision GIS surveys, mapping, inspection, and surveillance services.
