Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Odisha on Saturday afternoon to unveil projects worth Rs 68,400 crore in the state, including the new campus of IIM-Sambalpur . The prime minister was accompanied by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
IIM-Sambalpur campus
The prime minister inaugurated the new campus of IIM-Sambalpur, which was built at a cost of Rs 400 crore. The campus is spread over 180 acres and has state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research and administration. The prime minister said that the IIM-Sambalpur will contribute to the development of Odisha and the country by producing world-class management professionals .
Power and coal projects
The prime minister also laid the foundation stone of several power and coal projects worth Rs 58,000 crore. These include:
- Talcher Fertilizer Plant: A coal gasification based urea plant with an annual capacity of 1.27 million tonnes. The project is expected to be completed by 2026 and will provide employment to over 4,500 people.
- Angul-Sukinda Railway Line: A 289 km long railway line connecting Angul and Sukinda in Odisha. The project will facilitate the movement of coal, iron ore and other minerals and reduce the congestion on the existing routes.
- Bhubaneswar Smart City Project: A project to transform Bhubaneswar into a smart city with improved urban services, governance and livability. The project will cover an area of 135 sq km and benefit over 10 lakh people.
- Expansion of Paradip Port: A project to increase the cargo handling capacity of Paradip Port from 140 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 325 MTPA by 2030. The project will involve the construction of new berths, terminals and connectivity infrastructure.
Other projects
The prime minister also launched other projects in various sectors such as roads, railways, health, education and tourism. These include:
- Biju Expressway: A four-lane expressway connecting Rourkela and Jagdalpur via Sambalpur and Nuapada. The expressway will improve the connectivity and economic development of western Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
- Balangir-Bichhupali Railway Line: A 15 km long railway line connecting Balangir and Bichhupali in Odisha. The line will provide rail connectivity to the tribal areas of Balangir district and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce.
- AIIMS Bhubaneswar Super Specialty Block: A new block at AIIMS Bhubaneswar with facilities for cardiology, neurology, nephrology, gastroenterology and oncology. The block will enhance the tertiary health care services in Odisha and neighbouring states.
- Tribal Museum at Koraput: A museum showcasing the rich culture and heritage of the tribal communities of Odisha. The museum will have exhibits on tribal art, crafts, costumes, ornaments, musical instruments and weapons.
The prime minister said that these projects will create new opportunities for the people of Odisha and boost the state’s growth potential. He also praised the state government for its efforts to combat COVID-19 and cyclones .