New Delhi, August 5, 2023: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik jointly inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several significant development projects in Bhubaneswar on August 5. One of the key projects was the widening and strengthening of the Moter to Banner via Ladugaon road in Kalahandi district.
Additionally, Shah inaugurated the long-awaited four-laning of the Kamakshyanagar-Duburi section of National Highway-53 on EPC (Procurement and Construction) mode.
Education Minister Dharmendra Minister and Odisha Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik were among the other dignitaries present at the event.
During his speech, CM Naveen Patnaik outlined the state’s development agenda, stating that they plan to include 6,500 km of road and construct around 300 bridges this year. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India for its support in Odisha’s development endeavors, emphasizing the state’s commitment to cooperative federalism.
Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Odisha, paid tribute to Gopinath Bordoloi on his death anniversary, acknowledging the former Assam Chief Minister’s contribution to keeping the northeast region an integral part of India.
Regarding infrastructure development, Shah highlighted the Centre’s investment of ₹761 crore in four-laning the 51km national highway connecting Kamakshyanagar and Duburi. This road will connect mineral-rich districts Angul and Dhenkanal with the national highway, bolstering the region’s economy.
Drawing parallels between Odisha and Gujarat’s reverence for Lord Jagannath, Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic decision to scrap Article 370 on August 5, 2019. He also commended the Naveen Patnaik government for its efforts in containing naxal activities in the state.
Later in the day, Amit Shah held a closed-door meeting with the newly appointed state office bearers of the BJP, discussing the party’s preparedness and strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024.
The 51km-long 4-lane Kamkhyanagar and Duburi stretch, inaugurated by Shah, includes major and minor bridges, underpasses, and animal passages to ensure the safe passage of wildlife in the area.
