President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Pahadpur village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, marking a rare joint engagement in the tribal-dominated region.
The President and the Prime Minister offered prayers at the sacred groves of Santhali Jahera and Ho Jahera, reflecting the cultural and spiritual traditions of tribal communities. They also visited a Skill Centre and Pahadpur School, interacting with initiatives focused on education, capacity building and livelihood generation in rural and tribal areas.
The visit coincided with a major development push in the state, with Prime Minister Modi participating in the “Vikas ra Dhara, Odisha Sara” programme in Rairangpur to mark two years of the Odisha government.
According to an official release, projects worth over ₹47,600 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones laid across sectors including energy, industrial infrastructure, road connectivity, drinking water, health, education, tourism and irrigation. The projects are aimed at strengthening infrastructure, improving connectivity, enhancing energy security and generating employment opportunities across the state.
Among the key projects are the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project and the expansion of the IB Thermal Power Station with two 660 MW units. The Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited project in Jharsuguda is also expected to promote cleaner utilisation of domestic coal resources and reduce import dependence.
Other projects include a municipal solid waste-based compressed biogas plant in Bhubaneswar, a bridge over the Kathajodi river linking Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, several road and irrigation projects, and upgrades to healthcare and transport infrastructure, including a 300-bed district hospital in Boudh.
The programme also witnessed the inauguration of infrastructure projects, including bypasses, railway multi-tracking works, sports facilities and tribal research centres aimed at accelerating inclusive growth in the state, the release added.
(ANI)
