BJP, Congress supporters detained

Berhampur: Around 50 BJP and Congress supporters were detained at various locations here today as a preventive measure for the visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Ganjam district.

The detained persons included BJP district president Kanhu Charan Pati and district Youth Congress President Ajit Nayak. They were released after chief minister's departure from the district after launching several projects, police said.

BJP district president alleged that a party leader was attacked by BJD workers in presence of police at railway station, where the chief minister flagged off the pilgrimage train for the senior citizens.

"We condemn the incident and demand arrest of the attackers, Pati said.

During his whirlwind tour, the chief minister inaugurated as many as seven projects and laid foundation stone for electric grid sub-station near Aska.

The major projects inaugurated by the chief minister included a new bus-stand at Gopalpur port, Sradha Sanjeevani, a home for HIV infected orphan children at Gopalpur, a mini-stadium at Babanapur and Gahangu bridge near Aska.

Addressing a meeting held at Gopalpur after inaugurating the new bus-stand, the chief minister said the seaside town would be the business gate way of southern Odisha and a major tourist spot in the state.

The government has taken several initiatives including setting up an Industrial park for the development of Gopalpur, he said. The chief minister was also addressed a gathering at Baragaon-Bhetanai road, near Aska.

The new bus-stand was developed by Berhampur Development Authority (BDA). The bus-stand was developed in around 4-acres of land with an investment of Rs 5.85-crore, said BDA secretary Dipti Mohapatra.