Dhenkanal: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday launched the 'Bharat Ke Maan Ki Baat, Modi Ke Saath' campaign from Bhubaneswar during visit to Odisha today. Under the programme, 12 campaign vehicles will travel across the State to all the Assembly constituencies and seek suggestions from the people to prepare the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' or election manifesto ahead of 2019 polls.
Earlier in the day, Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stone of several infrastructural projects worth over Rs 5982 crore in Dhenkanal and Paradip during his one-day visit to Odisha today. Gadkari, however, sought the cooperation of State government for more projects here in Odisha saying that projects are getting delayed due to delay in environmental clearances and land acquisition.
After the ground breaking ceremony (Bhoomi Pujan) of three National Highway projects in Kamakhyanagar, Gadkari in his address stated that the Centre has invested over Rs 85,000 crore in roads for faster growth in Odisha. “This will not only ease the business, but also ensure jobs for millions, and bring about a socio-economic revolution. Odisha will soon become the engine of growth in India,” he said.
"Once the projects are over, it will create job opportunities for lakhs of youths, boost industrial development and encourage export and import in the State. This will make Odisha prosperous and powerful which is also the dream of the Prime Minister," said the Union Minister.
Gadkari also stated that Paradip is soon going to become the No.1 port of the country and will be Odisha's Growth Engine. This apart, Rs 2.5 lakh crore will be invested for the development of Odisha, he said.
"However, we need certain environmental clearances from Odisha Government to start the projects and if we get it, I assure to start the projects within four months," added Gadkari.
Responding to this, senior BJD leader Debiprasad Mishra said, "The State Government has always been co-operating with the Centre in the projects. The Odisha Government had earlier helped in land acquisition for various railway projects and done investment too for the infrastructures. Be it shipping projects or the Railways, the State Government has always gone one-step forward to help in setting up the welfare projects."
Gadkari laid the foundation stones of three National Highway projects of total length 132 kilometres estimated to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,345 crore. The NH projects include four laning of 41.726 km Talcher-Kamakhyanagar section of NH 200/23, (New NH-53 ) at a cost of Rs 795.18 crore, 51.1 km Kamakhyanagar-Duburi section of NH 200 (New NH-53 ) at a cost of Rs 761.11 crore and 39.4 km Duburi-Chandikhole section of NH 200 (New NH-53 ) at a cost of Rs 789.23 csrore.
The projects will have appropriate structures to reduce traffic congestion and ensure safety of road users. These would include 3 bypasses, 1 flyover, 19 vehicular underpasses, 9 major and 39 minor bridges and 45 km of service road.
These NH projects will ensure better connectivity of the mineral rich Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha with the rest of the State. By reducing traffic congestion and the travel time between places, the projects would help in reducing the operating cost of vehicles and bring down the levels of pollution. The project will create employment opportunities in the region and improve the socio-economic condition of the locals, said a statement of Road Transport & Highways Ministry.
During his visit to Paradip Port, Gadkari inaugurated port projects worth Rs 431 crore and laid foundation stones for six projects worth Rs 3206 crore.
The Union Minister inaugurated a Multipurpose Clean Cargo Berth of capacity 50 lakh tonne/year, built at a cost of Rs 431 crore. The Berth- (450m length x 30m wide x 16m draught) can take in Cape size vessels up to 125000 DWT. There is a Railway line with full length siding (3.2Km). The container handling capacity will enable local industry to find global markets.
The Minister also laid foundation stone for six projects at the Paradip port which includes LPG Terminal at south oil jetty worth Rs 690 crore, mechanization of 3 coal handling berths at a cost of Rs 1500, development of new coal import berth at cost of Rs 655 crore development of Multi Modal Logistic Park at a cost of Rs 200 crore over 350 acres, connectivity of MCHP and IOHP at PPT at a cost of Rs 67 crore and second exit road including flyover from port at a cost of Rs 94 crore.
Gadkari was accompanied by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan during his visit to Kamakhyanagar and Paradip.
Later in the evening, Gadkari attended party's programme in Bhubaneswar and launched the 'Bharat Ki Maan ki Baat, Modi ke Saath', a campaign to reach the public ahead of the general elections 2019.