Bhubaneswar: Veteran leader and former Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray today expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expediting the work for IGH and second Brahmani bridge which has been hanging in balance till now. In a tweet, Ray thanked PM Modi for sanction of funds for the projects.
"A budgetary provision of Rs 294.82 Crores has been granted towards the project by the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Steel. In a much-awaited development, the Ministry of Steel has transferred Rs 105.75 Crore for the project of conversion of IGH to a Super-speciality Hospital and PG Medical Education to SAIL and an amount of Rs 98, 27,46,631 (33% of the project cost) has been transferred by RSP to M/S (National Buildings Construction Corporation) NBCC for the execution of the project," wrote Ray in a Facebook post.
Ray further stated that regarding the issue of Brahmani Bridge, though the work continues to progress at a snail’s pace, the Prime Minister’s office has committed that the execution of the project will be completed by the financial year 2020-21 and the measures to expedite its execution will be taken at the earliest in a mission mode.
The thankful gesture of Ray has brought a new twist to the political ambience in Sundergarh ahead of the second phase polls on April 18.
Odisha BJP vice president Samir Mohanty said, "Union Minister Jual Oram had written to PM Modi and even Dilip Ray was keen on getting the projects done. It is for this reason, that Ray had thanked PM."
Earlier, Ray had expressed displeasure over inordinate delay in execution of both the projects. He had also written letter to PM modi about his promise to complete the second bridge over Brahmani river.
Modi during his pre-election speech at Rourkela in 2014 and during his visit on April 1, 2015 after winning the elections had raked up both the issue.
Ray had resigned from the primary membership of BJP in November last year.