Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 60,000 crore in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district, while also flagging off the Amrit Bharat Express between Berhampur and Udhna (Surat).
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati were present to felicitate the Prime Minister during the event. The projects span telecommunications, railways, higher education, healthcare, skill development, and rural housing, aimed at boosting regional growth and improving connectivity.
In the telecom sector, PM Modi commissioned over 97,500 4G mobile towers, including 92,600 by BSNL, at a cost of around Rs 37,000 crore. Funded under the Digital Bharat Nidhi, more than 18,900 4G sites will connect 26,700 unconnected villages, serving over 20 lakh new subscribers. The solar-powered towers form India’s largest cluster of green telecom infrastructure.
Significant railway projects were inaugurated, including the Sambalpur-Sarla Rail Flyover, the doubling of the Koraput-Baiguda line, and the Manabar-Koraput-Gorapur line, which will enhance freight and passenger movement across Odisha and neighbouring states.
The Amrit Bharat Express was flagged off to provide affordable inter-state connectivity, promote tourism, create employment, and link key economic districts.
In healthcare, the PM laid the foundation stone for upgrading MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, and VIMSAR, Sambhalpur, into world-class super-speciality hospitals with enhanced bed capacity, trauma care, dental colleges, maternal and child services, and expanded academic infrastructure.
PM Modi also inaugurated BSNL’s swadeshi 4G network, laid foundation stones for the expansion of eight IITs (creating capacity for 10,000 new students over four years), and launched multiple technical education and skill development initiatives.
Under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, sanction orders were distributed to 50,000 beneficiaries, providing pucca houses and financial support to vulnerable rural families. CM Majhi lauded the Subhadra Yojana, which has benefited over 1 crore women with Rs 10,000 annually.
Chief Ministers from eight states, including Maharashtra, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh, joined the event virtually, along with several Union Cabinet ministers.
