Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has restricted foreign visits of its senior officials. Before leaving for aboard, they have to take the permission from the office of chief minister Naveen Patnaik. According to new norms, senior bureaucrats can go for a foreign jaunt maximum three times during a financial year. The government has also curtailed the number of days for each foreign visit to five, barring the travel time. During the Assembly session, secretaries of various departments have been advised not to go abroad. They can travel only in case of emergency.

Over the last few years, Odisha Assembly was witnessing uproarious scenes over the issue of officers visiting abroad when the House sessions were on.