Modi unveils slew of projects worth over ₹1,550 cr. in Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a slew of projects worth over ₹1,550 crore for Odisha.

He dedicated the electrification of Jharsuguda- Vizianagaram and Sambalpur-Angul lines spanning 813 km to the nation, completed at a cost of ₹1,085 crore.

Mr. Modi also inaugurated the doubling of 14.2 km of Barpali-Dungaripali and 17.354 km Balangir-Deogaon railway lines, completed at a cost of ₹189.3 crore. It is a part of the 181.54 km Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail track doubling project.

A Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Jharsuguda, built at a cost of ₹100 crore, was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister.

He also inaugurated the 15 km-long Balangir-Bichhupali railway line laid at a cost of ₹115 crore. It is part of the new 289-km Balangir-Khurda road line which connects to Howrah-Chennai main line on Khurda Road and Titlagarh-Sambalpur line at Balangir.

Mr. 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 ₹ 27.4 crore was inaugurated on the occasion. The bridge reestablishes the linkage over Nagavali river, which was destroyed during floods in July 2017.

These apart, Mr. 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.

He inaugurated six Passport Seva Kendras at Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Phulbani, Bargarh and Balangir.

Mr. Modi also laid the foundation stone for a permanent building of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sonepur, to be constructed at a cost of ₹15.81 crore.

Modi takes out rally
Mr. 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 is committed not only to conserving and preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage but also to clubbing ancient identities with modernity.

“Past governments ruled like Sultanates and neglected our rich heritage. They ignored our glorious civilization and failed to pay attention to their preservation,” Mr. 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,” Mr. Modi said.