Odisha Updates English Spellings of Key Cities and Towns to Reflect Authentic Odia Pronunciation
Bhubaneswar, June 23 (UDN): The Odisha Government has officially notified revised English spellings for several districts, towns, and administrative blocks across the state in an effort to better align them with their original Odia pronunciation and linguistic roots.
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Under the updated nomenclature, several prominent place names will now be represented in official English records as follows: Cuttack will be spelt as Kataka, Balasore as Baleshwar, Berhampur as Brahmapur, Khurda as Khordha, and Rourkela as Raurkela.
Officials said the decision has been taken to preserve Odisha’s linguistic heritage and ensure that government records, signage, and official communications more accurately reflect the authentic Odia names of places.
The revised spellings will be implemented across administrative documents, maps, and public communication systems in a phased manner by various government departments.
The move is expected to strengthen cultural identity and promote uniformity in the representation of place names across official platforms.
The government has not commented on public reactions yet, though the decision is likely to generate discussions among residents, historians, and language experts on its cultural and practical implications.
