Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday outlined the state government’s goals, including making Odisha a $500 billion economy by 2036, when it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its statehood.
Odisha celebrated its statehood day with much pomp and splendour, with a series of programmes organised across the state. The state-level programme was held at Suando in Puri district, the birthplace of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, one of Odisha’s greatest social reformers.
Attending the Utkal Divas event, Majhi announced that ₹585 crore would be spent on the development of Suando and Satyabadi areas. While ₹90 crore would be used for restoring and developing Bakula Vana Vidyalaya and Satyabadi Vana Vidyalaya, ₹495 crore would be allocated for redeveloping Satyabadi, including setting up a heritage corridor.
The chief minister reiterated his commitment to establishing a world tourism centre, the Shree Jagannath Museum and a library in Puri. He also announced that, in addition to the international airport, seven more airports would be established in the state.
He said helipads would be constructed in 15 districts, a shipbuilding industry developed in Kendrapara and a satellite port built at Bahuda in Ganjam. A 287km railway line connecting Jeypore in Koraput to Berhampur would also be developed.
Majhi inaugurated a visa application centre operated by VFS Global in Bhubaneswar, located at the Barmunda bus terminal, offering services for ten countries. He said it would benefit residents who earlier had to travel to Calcutta.
He also announced that President Droupadi Murmu has approved the President’s Police Colour Award, the highest honor bestowed on a state police force or central paramilitary unit, for Odisha police. PTI