Bhubaneswar, June 13: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today visited the medical college campus and said it would start from the next academic session.

"I have reviewed the progress of the medical college and am happy to say that we will be able to start the college from the next academic session," said Naveen.

Establishment of a medical college has been a long-standing demand of Balasore. A few months ago, residents had staged an agitation demanding that the medical college become functional from this academic year.

Supporting the demand, the MLAs of the district had raised the issue in the Assembly during its budget session.

The clamour has become louder after the admission into the neighbouring Baripada medical college started this year following the state government's intervention.

The chief minister's visit to Balasore medical college today is believed to have been planned to assuage the feelings of the people of Balasore district, which is a BJD stronghold.

Naveen, who came to attend a zonal-level meeting of the BJD's youth wing, also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 11 developmental projects worth Rs 62 crore.

The projects inaugurated included a 100-bed hostel for SC/ST students of FM University, two pipe water supply projects and mangrove eco-tourism projects at Bichitrapur under Bhograi block.

Foundation stones for the protection of Subarnarekha river embankments were laid at four places.

Similarly, the foundation stone for the protection of Budhabalanga river embankment was laid at Kasaba village.

The chief minister also laid the foundation stone for construction of a model school at Sutei under Remuna block on the town outskirts.

Addressing the gathering, Naveen said: "Employment has always been our priority. In the last three years we have created more than 5 lakh employment opportunities in various sectors. We had received investment proposals to the tune of Rs 2.10 lakh crore at the investors' meet held in Mumbai and Bangalore and the Make in Odisha programme in Bhubaneswar."

"In our recent High Level Clearance Authority meeting, we approved 10 proposals with an investment of Rs 1.10 lakh crore. These investments will create employment opportunity for about 50,000 youths," Naveen said.

He said the government was in the process of acquiring 1,100 acres of land for setting up an industrial park in Balasore with focus on IT, apparel and MSME sectors to create about 10,000 jobs.

Naveen inaugurated the BJD youth wing zonal convention at the business park set up by the North Odisha Chambers of Commerce and Industries at Somnathpur.

About 15,000 youth leaders from Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar, besides the host district, attended the programme.