A decision has been taken to build an airport in Paradip at a cost of Rs 200 crore, said BJP leader and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari who attended Vijay Setu Sankalp Samavesh at Krushnaprasad under Puri Lok Sabha constituency and Brahmagiri Assembly segment on Thursday.
Striking a chord with the people, Gadkari started his address in Odia and said he visited Puri Srimandir and sought blessings of Lord Jagannath for the betterment of the country and making India the third largest economy in the world.
Long-standing demand
Referring to the perennial communication problem of Krushnaprasad people, he said he would do something for them and they should also do something for him by casting their votes for party candidates, Sambit Patra and Upasana Mohapatra.
Patra and Mohapatra are contesting the elections from the Puri Lok Sabha seat and Brahmagiri Assembly seat respectively.
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“I am declaring today that we are constructing a road from Tangi to Digha. Due to Chilika Lake and the wetland, there is a missing link between Gopalpur and Satapada. Due to this missing link, people are still using boats. Between NH 516 A and NH 316 A, a road will be constructed. An order has been given to prepare its DPR,” he said.
Projects for Odisha
“The DPR for the 171-km-long six-lane road from Ratanpur to Digha to be constructed at the cost of Rs 8000 crore has been prepared and it will be built after the elections. Similarly, the DPR of 177-km-long four-lane road from Rameswar, Puri, Konark and Pardip to Ratanpur at a cost of Rs 8500 crore has also been prepared. This will improve the connectivity between Paradip and Dhamra port. The construction will start in October. Another DPR for a 65-km-long four-lane road from Jamjhari to Dhamra port to be built at the cost of Rs 2000 crore has also been prepared. Its tender will be floated after the elections. The DPR for the four-lane 87-km-long road from Cuttack-Paradip Port at the cost of Rs 2370 crore has been completed. Its construction will also start after the elections,” said the Minister.
“I am spending Rs 3 lakh crore for the development of roads in Odisha. I believe this will help the development of Odisha. I have done a lot for Paradip port. This has provided employment to youths. I also permitted the rail project worth Rs 3100 crore rail project from Paradip to Kalinganagar. We have also decided to build an airport at a cost of Rs 200 crore,” he said.
“I am declaring today we are constructing a road from Tangi to Digha. Due to Chilika Lake and wetland, there is a missing link between Gopalpur and Satapada. Due to this missing link, people are still using country boats. Between the NH 516 A and NH 316, a road will be constructed for which an order has been given for the preparation of its DPR,” he added.
Bio-fuel and poverty alleviation plans
We have brought 25 crore people above the poverty line. Our economic policies have been prepared with an aim to help poor farmer, and labourers. We are not only developing smart cities but also smart villages, he said.
“We are producing bioethanol from rice. My vehicle is running with this fuel. There are hundreds of factories in the country that are producing ethanol from rice and maize. And from straws, bio CNG and LNG are being produced at 300 factories in Punjab, Haryana and western UP. My tractor is running with this fuel. Our aim is to ensure the development of farmers, labourers and fishermen as well as the development of the nation,” he added.
"Our future is hydrogen. In the coming days our trucks, buses trains and planes will run on hydrogen. My vehicle is running with hydrogen and is better than Mercedes. Our village youths will produce ethanol, bio CNG and green hydrogen from water. Then our country won’t be importing fuel but exporting it,” he further added.
Full movie yet to be released
What I have done so far is just a trailer. The full movie is still to be released. Just vote our candidates to power, and I am giving you the guarantee for the rest of work. There is no dearth of money for your development, Gadkari said.