Rs 1,900 Crore for Keonjhar: Odisha CM lays foundation, inaugurates 71 projects

Keonjhar received a major development push on Tuesday as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation stones and inaugurated a total of 71 projects worth over Rs 1,900 crore, marking a significant Makar Sankranti gift for the people of the district.

Also Read: Land for mega steel plant in Keonjhar to be acquired soon: Odisha CM

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) sources, CM Majhi laid foundation stones and inaugurated a total of 71 development projects spanning key sectors such as education, healthcare, road infrastructure and drinking water supply. Of these, the foundation stones were laid for 35 projects worth Rs 1,708 crore, while 36 completed projects costing Rs 194 crore were formally inaugurated.

The inaugurated projects include schools, colleges, hostels and pond rejuvenation works aimed at improving educational access and community infrastructure. In addition, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for block-level stadiums in six blocks at an investment of Rs 101 crore, strengthening sports infrastructure at the grassroots level.

Addressing the gathering, the CM said Keonjhar would move forward as a major steel city and play an even stronger role in Odisha’s economic growth in the coming years.

CM Majhi further said that the government is working towards balanced development of the State. After the year 2000, he had repeatedly raised his voice inside and outside the Assembly against regional disparity, because his own district had suffered from it.

As soon as the present government came to power, it immediately formed a task force for North Odisha and South Odisha Development Councils to address people’s grievances. Once the report is received, both these development councils will become fully functional.

“Ever since the foundation stone for Maa Tarini Temple development project was laid, a ‘rocket engine’ seems to have been fitted to the ‘double-engine’ vehicle of Keonjhar’s development. Keonjhar is not just a district—it is a land rich in excellent natural resources, a place of rich cultural heritage and hardworking people,” the CM stated.

“This soil has made an immense contribution to Odisha’s economic strength. From minerals to forests and from agriculture to human resources, Keonjhar has always powered the State’s growth,” the CM expressed.