Modi unveils projects worth over Rs 1,550 crore in Odisha

Affirming the Centre's resolve to expand connectivity in Odisha, Modi said education, coupled with connectivity, would lead to speedy development and overall progress of all sections of society.

"I am happy to unveil projects worth Rs 1,550 crore in areas like education, connectivity, tourism and culture," Modi said while inaugurating and laying foundation stone for a series of projects, mainly in the railway sector, at a function in Balangir.

During his third visit to Odisha in as many weeks, Modi dedicated to the nation the electrification of Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram and Sambalpur-Angul railway lines spanning 813km, which have been completed at a cost of Rs 1,085 crore.

The project aims to ensure seamless rail connectivity on the line and reduce journey time. It will also reduce diesel consumption and greenhouse gas emission, a senior railway official said.

Modi also inaugurated the doubling of the 14.2km Barpali-Dungaripali and 17.3km Balangir-Deogaon rail lines, completed at a cost of Rs 189.3 crore. They are part of the 181.54km Sambalpur-Titlagarh doubling project.

Describing connectivity as a catalyst for progress, Modi said it would boost trade, commerce and tourism, besides helping farmers in taking their produce to the mandis.

Strong connectivity would also propel industrialisation, which, in turn, would create enormous opportunities for employment generation, he said.

A Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Jharsuguda, built at a cost of Rs 100 crore, was dedicated to the nation by Modi. Spread over 28.3 acres, the MMLP is adjacent to the Howrah-Mumbai main line, 5km from Jharsuguda railway station.

Several industries, such as cement, paper, aluminium, refractory, pig iron, sponge iron and steel pipe, located in and around the area would benefit from the facility, Modi said.

Modi also inaugurated the 15km-long Balangir-Bichhupali railway line laid at a cost of Rs 115 crore. It is part of the new 289km Balangir-Khurda Road line, which connects to Howrah-Chennai main line on Khurda roadside and Titlagarh-Sambalpur line at Balangir. The line would connect coastal Odisha with western region through Sonepur, Boudh, Puranakatak, Daspalla and Nayagarh, synchronising development across the state.

The line would also benefit many micro, small and medium enterprises and cottage industries and generate opportunities for the mining sector.

Modi flagged off a new train on Balangir-Bichhupali route, which would benefit commuters of the region, besides connecting Bichhupali to Jharsuguda and Vizianagaram main line through Balangir.

A bridge between Theruvali and Singapur Road station, constructed at a cost of Rs 27.4 crore, was inaugurated on the occasion. The bridge re-establishes the linkage over Nagavali river, which was washed away during floods in July 2017.

These apart, Modi inaugurated renovation and restoration works at Nilamadhav and Siddheswar Temple at Gandhaharadi in Boudh, Paschim Somnath group of temples, also in Boudh, and Ranipur Jharial group of monuments in Balangir, an official of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said.

He inaugurated six Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) at Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Phulbani, Bargarh and Balangir through videoconferencing.

The PSKs would immensely benefit the people as they would no longer require to travel all the way to Bhubaneswar for getting passports issued, Modi said.

Speaking at a rally after inaugurating the projects, Modi accused the past governments at the Centre of ruling like "sultanates" and neglecting the country's rich heritage.

He said the government led by him was committed not only to conserving and preserving the country's rich cultural heritage but also at clubbing ancient identities with modernity.

"Past governments ruled like sultanates and neglected our rich heritage. They ignored our glorious civilisation and failed to pay attention to their preservation," Modi said at a BJP rally in this western Odisha town. The prime minister said some people are even opposing celebration of International Yoga Day, without understanding that yoga is India's ancient asset.

Claiming that priceless antique pieces and ancient idols were stolen and moved out of the country in the past, he said the NDA government has taken concrete steps to bring back the precious idols from abroad.

"In the last four years, many such idols have already been brought back," Modi said.