Keonjhar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation stone for the 18.326 km long Barbil bypass ring road in Barbil, on the third day of his visit to the district on Monday. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1581.21 crore.Besides, he inaugurated 24 projects worth Rs 29.41 crore and laid foundation stones for 51 projects worth Rs 326.43 crore for Keonjhar district. He announced that power substations would be built in Joda, Basudevpur and Barbil areas at a cost of Rs 298 crore and instructed the district administration to expedite construction of 8-lane Barbil–Paradip road.Adressing the gathering, he said out of many promises made to the people, one more has been fulfilled. “The bypass road will solve the long-standing traffic and heavy vehicle movement in Keonjhar and Barbil. It will not only handle the heavy traffic but also boost economic activity,” said the chief minister.The other infrastructure projects for the district includes a 10-km road from Bamebari–Palasa–Guruda–Koida at an investment of Rs 95 crore, a 7.5-km road from Suakati–Dubuna–Kalimati at a cost of Rs 30 crore, upgradation of 5.5 km length portion of the Palaspanga to Bamebari (KIDCO) at the cost of Rs 30 crore along with development of sports infrastructure at Barbil Utsav Ground and upgrading of the bus stand at a cost of Rs 9.27 crore were also inaugurated. These projects will accelerate development in Barbil and Keonjhar district and improve the quality of people’s life, said the CM.The CM said a data centre in Keonjhar, a regional plant resource centre in Sana Ghagara, apparel units, the Keonjhar bypass, and development of tourist spots and infrastructure development in Joda–Barbil region have already started. Recently, the cabinet approved a grid substation for Keonjhar that would cost Rs 1647 crore. Targeted to be completed within three years, it will ensure quality and uninterrupted electricity supply for residential and industrial areas, boosting economic activity in Joda, Barbil, and Keonjhar, he said.The CM said the foundation stone for a mega steel plant in Keonjhar will be laid soon. He announced that any industry investing over Rs 10,000 crore and employing more than 10,000 youths will receive full administrative support. ITI, Barbil, is set to become a centre of excellence.Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the govt is committed to building a prosperous Odisha by 2036. “The current Union Budget includes several schemes beneficial for Odisha, including rare earth and east-west corridors, industrial connectivity via National Waterway-5, and economic regions like Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip with a budget allocation of Rs 5000 crore. Railway budget allocation for Odisha has increased 12 to 13 times. “This is a golden time for Odisha under the double-engine government,” the CM said.The govt has also decided on three major roads projects like a 287-km expressway connecting Berhampur to Jeypore costing Rs 9,000 crore; a Namo Expressway linking Paralakhemundi to Ambabhona in Bargarh as part of the east-west corridor; and the Atal Expressway connecting Motu in Malkangiri to Tiring in Mayurbhanj over 969 km in length and passing through Keonjhar and directly linking North and South Odisha, he said.During the event, the CM quoted the Prime Minister’s address on the Nari Shakti Vandan Act in Parliament and said that a bill for 33% reservation for women will be introduced in Parliament, enhancing women’s economic and social empowerment. The number of seats in the state assembly will also increase to 196, which will raise women’s representation and strengthen their voice. Among others, Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud, Patna MLA Akhil Chandra Naik, Planning Board chairman Dr Fakir Mohan Naik, special development council chairperson Mamita Naik, and district collector Vishal Singh were present.
