President Murmu, PM Modi to Unveil Odisha Projects Worth Rs 47,600 Crore

Bhubaneswar, June 20: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday jointly launched and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 47,600 crore across Odisha, marking a significant milestone in the state’s infrastructure and economic growth journey.

The high-profile event was held in Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district, where President Murmu joined Prime Minister Modi in a rare joint appearance at a major development programme. The occasion coincided with the completion of two years of the BJP government in Odisha.

The ambitious package of projects covers a wide range of sectors, including energy, transportation, industrial infrastructure, healthcare, education, drinking water supply, tourism and irrigation. The initiatives are expected to strengthen public infrastructure, improve regional connectivity and generate employment opportunities in both urban and rural areas.

Officials said the projects reflect the Centre’s commitment to accelerating development in tribal and backward regions while ensuring that the benefits of economic growth reach every section of society. The investments are also aimed at enhancing Odisha’s industrial capabilities and supporting long-term economic expansion.

Among the key projects for which foundation stones were laid is the 600-MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project, designed to improve energy storage capacity and support renewable power integration. Another major initiative is the Stage-II expansion of the IB Thermal Power Station, which will add two units of 660 MW each and strengthen the state’s electricity generation capacity.

The Prime Minister and the President also initiated work on the Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) project in Lakhanpur, Jharsuguda district. The project is expected to promote cleaner utilization of coal resources while supporting industrial development and job creation.

Several infrastructure projects aimed at improving civic amenities were also announced. These include a compressed biogas plant based on municipal solid waste in Bhubaneswar, a new bridge over the Kathajodi River connecting Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, and the widening and strengthening of the Dhalpur-Harbhanga road in Boudh district.

Road connectivity received a major boost with the launch of the four-laning project on the Nuapada-Ghatipada section of National Highway-353. In the irrigation sector, the Kusumdihi Mega Lift Irrigation Project is expected to improve water availability for agricultural activities and enhance rural livelihoods.

Educational and sports infrastructure also featured prominently in the development package. The foundation stone for a regional centre of IGNOU and an indoor badminton complex at Rairangpur was laid, aiming to improve educational access and sporting facilities in the region.

Prime Minister Modi dedicated two railway multi-tracking projects worth more than Rs 732 crore to the nation. The Jakhapura-Jajpur Keonjhar Road-Baitarani Road multi-tracking section is expected to ease congestion on the busy Howrah-Chennai corridor and facilitate smoother movement of passengers and freight trains.

Similarly, the Hindol Road Meramandali multi-tracking project will increase rail capacity and support the transportation of coal, steel and other industrial commodities essential for Odisha’s growing economy.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated a 300-bed district headquarters hospital building in Boudh, strengthening healthcare services in the region. Additional public facilities inaugurated during the event included 24 Atal Bus Stands and nine Automated Testing Stations established across different districts to improve transportation services and vehicle safety standards.

Among other completed projects opened to the public were the Nayagarh Town Bypass on National Highway-57, the underground pipeline component of the Kusumi Smart Irrigation Project, and a modern sports complex along with a tribal research centre at Rairangpur.

Government officials described the large-scale development initiative as a transformative step towards enhancing Odisha’s infrastructure landscape and improving the quality of life for citizens. The projects are expected to create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities while supporting industrial growth, agricultural productivity and regional connectivity.

With substantial investments spanning multiple sectors, the Odisha Development Projects package is being viewed as one of the state’s largest coordinated infrastructure and public welfare initiatives in recent years, laying the foundation for sustained economic progress and inclusive development.