Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sambalpur. Modi was accorded a grand welcome at Jharsuguda airport upon his arrival on one-day visit to Odisha.
A thick blanket of security cover was made for the Prime Minister’s visit. Around 70 platoons of police force were deployed for PM Modi’s event here.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the permanent IIM Sambalpur campus in the presence of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw and other BJP leaders.
After the inauguration, Modi took stock of the facilities available at the IIM Sambalpur for the students and others.
While speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Today is an important day for Odisha’s development. I congratulated the people of Odisha for around Rs 70,000 crore worth of projects including developmental initiatives in education, rail, road, electricity, and others. The benefits of these projects will reach the poor, students, farmers, and people of sectors. These projects will create new employment opportunities for the youths of Odisha.”
Modi further said that today the Government of India has decided to confer Bharat Ratna on LK Advani for his immense contribution to the country. It shows that the country never forgets those who have contributed to the nation, he said.
“We have been trying to make Odisha a hub for education and skill development. In the last decade, whatever facilities Odisha has got have changed the future of youths here. A lot of centres have been established in the state. Now IIM Sambalpur will strengthen Odisha’s role. During the Covid period, I had laid the foundation stone for the campus. Despite all hurdles, the campus is ready,” said Modi.
The Prime Minister further said the target of Vikshit Bharat can be achieved when every state of the country is developed. Hence, we have supported Odisha in every sector. With the Centre’s help, Odisha is scaling new heights in the petroleum and petrochemicals sector.
“In the last 10 years, there has been considerable investment in the petroleum and petrochemicals sector in Odisha and 12 times more budget allocation for the railway sector here. Around 50,000 kms of roads have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana. Moreover, 4000 kms of new national highways and three major highway projects have been inaugurated. The inter-state connectivity with Jharkhand will improve. Through this new connectivity, it will create new employment and new development prospects,” said Modi.
“Every family in Odisha should get cheap electricity. The ultra-supercritical thermal projects which have been inaugurated also aim at this. The Centre’s policies in the last 10 years have benefited Odisha. Odisha is the biggest beneficiary due to reforms in the mining sector. Odisha’s income has registered growth of 10 times. BJP government constituted the district mineral fund which is utilised in the same area. Odisha has benefited by around Rs 25,000 crore from this. The money is used for the people in the mining areas. I assure the people of Odisha that the Centre will continue to work for the development of the state,” said Modi.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “I congratulate the students and teachers for the new infrastructure at IIM Sambalpur. I also thank PM Modi for taking time to come here and grace the inauguration of the new campus. I hope learning here will be enlightened and enriching experience for the students. IIM Sambalpur has made its mark by creating some of the best graduates, best placements and other facilities.”
Patnaik further urged students to think how they can contribute to their state and contribute by sharing their knowledge and vast experience.
“PM Modi has set a new direction for India and we are on the path to become to become an economic power house. This is golden time for start ups in Odisha and the state is a top performer for promotion of start-ups,” said Patnaik.
While speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “I thank the Prime Minister for granting Rs 18 lakh crore for Odisha’s development. Out of the Rs 68,000 crore projects, Rs 57,000 crore projects are only for energy sector. 7 new IITs, 15 new AIIMS, 16 IIITs, 8 IIMS, 390 new universities have been set up in the country under PM Narendra Modi’s government.”
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Pradhan said that PM Modi’s vision is women-led development and 51% of students in IIM Sambalpur are women. This year, PM Modi has sanctioned 1.21 lakh crore for the education sector in the interim budget which is a 50% hike from 2014.
“We were excited for last one week as India’s image has grown leaps and bounds under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the campus in 2021 and it is ready within two years,” said IIM Sambalpur Director, M Jaiswal.
Modi is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs 68,000 crore during his Odisha visit today.
Among the key projects, the foundation stone for redevelopment of Sambalpur Railway Station was laid today.
Read | LK Advani to be conferred Bharat Ratna: PM Modi
The Prime Minister inaugurated ‘Dhamra – Angul Pipeline Section (412 Km) of ‘Jagdishpur-Haldia & Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline Project (JHBDPL)’. The project has been built at a cost of more than Rs 2450 crore under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga’. This project will connect Odisha with the National Gas Grid.
Modi also laid the foundation stone of ‘Nagpur Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline Section (692 Km) of Mumbai-Nagpur-Jharsuguda Pipeline. The project, which will be developed at a cost of more than Rs 2660 crore, will improve the natural gas availability to states like Odisha, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of multiple power projects worth about Rs 28,980 crore. The projects to be dedicated to nation include NTPC Darlipali Super Thermal Power Station (2x800 MW) and NSPCL Rourkela PP-II Expansion Project (1x250 MW) in Sundargarh district of Odisha.
Modi also laid the foundation stone of NTPC Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage-III (2x660 MW) in Angul district of Odisha. These power projects will supply low-cost power to Odisha as well as several other states.
The foundation stone for the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) Talabira Thermal power project worth more than 27000 crore was also laid. The state-of-the-art project will provide reliable, affordable and round-the-clock power contributing significantly to the nation’s energy security and playing a vital role in the country’s economic growth and prosperity.
The Prime Minister inaugurated coal infrastructure projects of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited including First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects - Bhubaneswari Phase-I in Talcher Coalfields in Angul district and Lajkura Rapid Loading System (RLS). Built at a cost of about Rs. 2145 crore, these projects will boost the quality and supply of dry fuel from Odisha.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated Ib Valley Washery, built at a cost of over Rs. 550 crore in Jharsuguda district of Odisha. It will mark a paradigm shift in coal processing for quality, signifying innovation and sustainability. The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation a 50 km long second track of Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega rail line Phase-1 built by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, with an investment of Rs 878 crore.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated three National Highways road sector projects, developed at a cumulative cost of about Rs 2110 crore. The projects include four laning of Rimuli-Koida Section of NH 215 (New NH No. 520), four laning of Biramitrapur-Brahmani Bypass end section of NH 23 (New NH No. 143) and four laning of Brahmani Bypass End-Rajamunda Section of NH 23 (New NH No. 143). These projects will enhance connectivity and also contribute towards the economic development of the region.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of railway projects worth about Rs. 2146 crore. He laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Sambalpur Railway Station, whose architecture is inspired by the Sailashree Palace.
He also dedicated the Sambalpur- Talcher Doubling Railway Line (168 Kms) and Jhartarbha to Sonepur New Railway line (21.7 Kms), enhancing the rail network capacity in the region.
The Prime Minister also flagged off Puri-Sonepur-Puri Weekly Express, improving connectivity for the rail passengers in the region.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur. Further, he dedicated the Jharsuguda Head Post Office Heritage Building to the nation.
(With PIB Inputs)