Amit Shah inaugurates, lays foundation stone for several NHAI projects in Odisha

Union Minister Amit Shah, who is on a two-day Odisha visit, inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) projects while attending a programme at  Loka Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

As part of the visit to Odisha, Shah inaugurated the 51-kilometre-long 4-lane stretch on National Highway (NH) 53 connecting Kamkhyanagar and Duburi. 

The 51 km long 4-lane stretch has been constructed at an expense of Rs 761 crore. The stretch has two major bridges, seven minor bridges, seven underpasses, two animal underpasses, and 1.73 km long bypass.

Keeping safe passage of wild animals through the stretch, a 160-meter and another 80-meter animal underpasses have also been constructed.

Shah, who began his address with Jay Jagannath, said, "Like Odisha, people of Gujarat also worship Lord Jagannath. On August 5, PM Narendra Modi had taken a historic decision to scrap Article 370. On this occasion, I thank the PM on behalf of the people of the country,"

According to Shah, Prime Minister  Narendra Modi govt has done a lot of work for the National Highways in the last nine years. The newly dedicated 51- kilometer-long 4-lane stretch, which has been built at an expense of Rs 761 crore, will provide better connectivity to mineral-rich Dhenkanal and Angul.

Shah also laid the foundation stone for the widening and strengthening of Moter to Baneer via Ladugaon road of Kalahandi district in the presence of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Addressing the meeting, Patnaik said, “The new Odisha is a unique transformation story setting benchmarks across various sectors. My government believes that connectivity is key to progress of the state and empowerment of our people. A case in example is the Gurupriya Bridge connecting the Swabhiman Anchal in Malkangiri. Construction of this bridge has played a key role in the development of the entire area.”  

"The Biju Express Way and economic corridor connecting western Odisha with southern Odisha will be a crucial platform to propel growth in that region. The budget of our Works department has seen a quantum jump of 98 per cent since 2000, from about Rs 280 crores to more than Rs 50,000 crore now," Patnaik stated.

"This year, we plan to improve 6500 km of road and construct around 300 bridges which will provide huge momentum to growth and opportunities. Odisha always believes in cooperative federalism. I thank the Govt of India for its support to the state in its development agenda,” Patnaik added.

Notably, Amit Shah arrived in Bhubaneswar on Friday night on a two-day Odisha visit. 

Shah will hold review meetings on Left Wing Extremism and Disaster Management with the Odisha government today. 

Later in the day, the Union Home Minister will hold a meeting with the newly appointed State office bearers of the BJP and discuss the preparedness of the Party for the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections due in 2024. 

Shah will address the leaders on ways to take the achievements of the Modi government in nine years of governance at the Centre to the people in Odisha.