PM unveils infrastructure projects in Odisha

NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, during his visit to Odisha on January 15, launched a slew of projects worth Rs 1,550 crore.

PM inaugurated multi-modal logistics park at Jharsuguda, costing Rs 100 crore and a 15 km long new railway line between Balangir and Bichupali worth Rs 115 crore.  He also laid the foundation stone for the permanent building at Kendriya Vidhyalaya, Sonepur costing Rs 15.81 crore. 

Modi dedicated to the nation the electrification of Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram and Sambalpur-Angul lines spanning 813 km completed at a cost of Rs 1,085 crore and also unveiled the doubling of 14.2 km of Barpali – Dungaripali and 17.354 km Balangir-Deogaon railway lines worth Rs 189.3 crore.

A bridge between Theruvali and Singapur Road station costing Rs 27.4 crore was also inaugurated on the occasion, which was destroyed during floods in July 2017. 

According to an official statement, The Balangir-Bichupali railway line will connect coastal Odisha with western Odisha and the logistics park at Jharsuguda which will provide the import-export and domestic cargo facility, including private freight traffic. The railway line will also reduce travel time from Bhubaneswar and Puri to major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai.

“The line would benefit many MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises)and cottage industries and open up opportunities for the mining sector in Odisha,” the statement said.

PM also inaugurated new Passport Sewa Kendras at Jagatsingh, Kendrapara, Puri, Kandhmal, Bargarh and Balangir, and renovation and restoration works at Nilamadhav and Siddheshwar temples in Gandhaharadi, Ranipur Jharial group of monuments in Balangir and Asurgarh Fort in Kalahandi.