Odisha: PM Modi Unveils Rs 14,000 Crore Infrastructure Bonanza Including Several Key Pipeline Projects

In a major boost to development in Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a slew of infrastructure projects worth around Rs 14,000 crores in the state, while lambasting the Naveen Patnaik led-BJD administration for strengthening the ‘demon of corruption’, reports Firstpost.

Modi unveiled a stamp and a coin to commemorate Paika rebellion that happened more than two hundred years ago in 1817 against the British rule.

“Who is feeding the demon (of corruption)?... The demon corruption has grown in chit fund, PC (percentage commission) culture....The truth of Odisha's development is not hidden. Farmers, women are raising their voice," he stated, in an apparent attack on the state government.

He also lamented the fact that Odisha’s people were deprived of the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to the unwillingness of the BJD government to adopt the programme.

Modi inaugurated the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneshwar, which is built at an expense of around Rs 1,260 crore rupees, stating the university will become the centre of fulfilling the dreams of Odisha’s youth.

The investment comes as part of the centre’s ‘Purvodaya’ vision, and as part of the plan, Modi launched several infrastructure projects such as the Paradip Hyderabad Pipeline Product Project (PHPL), the Bokaro-Angul section of Jagdishpur-Haldia and the Bokaro-Dhamra Gas Pipeline Project (PM Urja Ganga).

Moreover, he inaugurated an archaeological museum in Lalitgiri, and also inaugurated a hospital in Bhubaneshwar. Modi also participated in the marking ceremony of four national highways- the Chandikhole-Bhadrak section of NH 5 (new NH16), Khandagiri Flyover, Bhubaneshwar on NH 5 (new NH16), Cuttack-Angul section of NH 42 (new NH55) and Tangi-Puintola section of NH 5 (new NH16).

The prime minister discussed the need to judiciously use Odisha’s natural bio-fuel reserves and unveiled a special bio-fuel plant in the state.