Baripada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone as well as inaugurated a multiple developmental projects worth more than Rs 4,500 crore at Baripada on Saturday.
This is Modi’s second visit to the State within a fortnight and the first in the New Year.
Modi launched and dedicated the projects in a special function held at the Government High School ground here in the presence of Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan, Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, State Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallcik and Mayurbhanj MP Rama Chandra Hansdah.
The Prime Minister flagged off a new passenger train from Badampahad in Mayurbhanj district to Tatanagar in Jharkhand and dedicated 513 km Balasore-Haldia-Durgapur section of Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur LPG pipeline to the nation. This has been constructed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) at a cost of Rs 1,080 crore.
Modi also inaugurated 11.3 km Chillikidara-Sagadapata rail line and 9 km Naranpur-Basantpur line with an expenditure of Rs 131.34 crore. The lines will connect the mineral rich areas of Keonjhar and Jajpur districts. These two sections, which are part of the Banspani-Jakhapura doubling project (180km), will carry minerals to Paradip port for export while at the same time providing passenger service to the region.
The Prime Minister also dedicated a multi-modal logistics park in Balasore built at a cost of Rs 25 crore.
Besides, Modi laid the foundation stones for four-laning of three major sections of three National Highways passing through the State – 43.2 km of the Rimuli-Koida section on NH-215 at a cost of Rs 828.36 crore, 104.2 km of the Singara-Binjabahal section on NH-6 for Rs 1,313 crore and 53.2 km of the Koida-Rajmunda section on NH-215 at an estimated cost of Rs 1,176.4 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Modi said the Centre is committed for the development of Odisha and the country as well.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the Centre is committed for holistic development of Odisha and the country as well.
After launching the projects, Modi addressed a BJP rally at the Chhau field, named after the indigenous dance in Baripada.
