Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several key projects collectively valued at over Rs 19,600 crore in Chandikhole, Odisha. The projects span diverse sectors including oil and gas, railways, road infrastructure, transportation, highways, and atomic energy.
Among the unveiled projects is a 344 km long product pipeline linking Paradip in Odisha to Haldia in West Bengal. Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated the Indian Oil Corporation’s Mono Ethylene Glycol project at the Paradip Refinery, and a 0.6 MMTPA LPG import facility at Paradip. The initiatives are expected to revolutionize the polyester industry in eastern India and provide essential raw materials to textile parks in Bhadrak and Paradip.
In his address, PM Modi reiterated the government’s dedication to meeting the nation’s current requirements while emphasizing the goal of making a developed country (Viksit Bharat). He highlighted efforts to bolster the energy sector’s capabilities in eastern states, citing the Urja Ganga Yojana as a significant initiative aimed at supplying natural gas to five major states, including Odisha.
PM Modi stressed the government’s commitment to harnessing the abundant natural resources in eastern India for Odisha’s progress. He particularly mentioned the inauguration of a desalination plant in Ganjam district, designed to treat nearly 50 lakh litres of saline water daily, rendering it suitable for drinking purposes.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister emphasized the government’s focus on modernizing connectivity infrastructure in Odisha to drive economic growth through local resources. He cited significant advancements in national highways and railway networks in the region, aimed at enhancing rail-highway-port connectivity and facilitating industrial growth, such as the Angul Sukinda railway line, which will aid in the development of the Kalinga Nagar Industrial area.
PM Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to reducing India’s import dependency, exemplified by projects like the Mono Ethylene Glycol project and the LPG import facility at Paradip. He also commended the inauguration of the seawater desalination plant, highlighting its importance in ensuring access to potable water in the region.