Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development works worth over Rs 60,000 crore in Jharsuguda, Odisha. He announced the commencement of projects worth thousands of crores for the development of Odisha and the nation. Additionally, he highlighted the foundation stone laying and inauguration of several projects in Odisha related to education, skill development, and connectivity.
Shri Modi shared that he had the opportunity to hand over approval letters to beneficiaries under the Antyodaya Griha Yojana. He remarked that when a poor family receives a pucca house, it transforms not only their present but also the future generations. Underlining that their government has already provided more than four crore pucca houses to poor families across the country, the PM said in Odisha, thousands of houses are being constructed at a rapid pace, and he commended the Chief Minister Shri Mohan Majhi and his team for their commendable efforts. The Prime Minister announced that today, nearly fifty thousand families have received approval for new homes. Under the PM Janman Yojana, over forty thousand houses have been sanctioned for tribal families in Odisha, fulfilling a major aspiration of the most marginalized among them. He extended his best wishes to all beneficiary families.
The government is bringing major projects to the state. He announced that the Central Government has recently approved two semiconductor units for Odisha, and a semiconductor park is also set to be established, crediting the strength and potential of the youth of Odisha. Shri Modi envisioned a future where the small chip used in phones, televisions, refrigerators, computers, cars, and many other devices will be manufactured in Odisha.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in every domain from chips to ships. He stated that a vast industrial corridor is being developed from Paradip to Jharsuguda. Emphasizing the strategic importance of shipbuilding, he noted that any nation aspiring for economic strength must invest in this sector, as it benefits trade, technology, and national security. Shri Modi explained that having indigenous ships ensures uninterrupted import-export operations even during global crises. The Prime Minister announced a major initiative by their government a Rs 70,000 crore package for shipbuilding in India. He projected that this would attract Rs 4.5 lakh crore in investments, reaching sectors such as steel, machinery, electronics, and manufacturing, especially benefiting small and cottage industries. He highlighted that this would generate millions of new jobs and bring significant advantages to Odisha’s industries and youth.
In the field of telecom connectivity, the Prime Minister commissioned more than 97,500 mobile 4G towers built at a cost of around Rs.37,000 crore with swadeshi technology. This includes more than 92,600 4G technology sites commissioned by BSNL. Over 18,900 4G sites have been funded under the Digital Bharat Nidhi which will connect around 26,700 unconnected villages in remote, border, and left-wing extremism-affected areas, serving over 20 lakh new subscribers. These towers are solar-powered, making them India’s largest cluster of green telecom sites and a step forward in sustainable infrastructure. Underlining that India has already rolled out the fastest 5G services, the Prime Minister noted that the BSNL towers inaugurated today are readily equipped to support 5G services as well. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to BSNL and all citizens of the country on this historic occasion.
Emphasising that a skilled youth and a robust research ecosystem are essential for building an Atmanirbhar Bharat, Shri Modi stated that this is a major priority for their government. He highlighted the unprecedented investment being made in education and skill development across the country, including Odisha. The Prime Minister announced that engineering colleges and polytechnics are being modernized, and launched a new scheme named MERITE to support this effort. Under this scheme, thousands of crores will be invested in technical education institutions. He remarked that this will eliminate the compulsion for youth to migrate to big cities for quality technical education. Instead, they will have access to modern labs, global skill training, and startup opportunities within their own towns.
Background
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation important railway projects that will boost connectivity and regional growth. These include foundation stone for Rail Flyover at Sambalpur–Sarla, dedication to the nation of the doubling of the Koraput–Baiguda line, and the Manabar–Koraput–Gorapur line. These projects will significantly improve freight and passenger movement in Odisha and neighbouring states, strengthening local industries and trade. On the occasion, the Prime Minister will also flag off the Amrit Bharat Express between Berhampur and Udhna (Surat), providing affordable and comfortable connectivity across states, supporting tourism, creating employment opportunities, and linking key economic districts.
Prime Minister laid the foundation stones for the expansion of eight IITs Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, Dharwad, Jodhpur, Patna, and Indore at an investment of around Rs 11,000 crore. The expansion will create capacity for 10,000 new students over the next four years and will establish eight state-of-the-art research parks, thereby strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem and providing a strong push to research and development.
Prime Minister also launched Odisha Skill Development Project Phase II which will establish World Skill Centres in Sambalpur and Berhampur, covering emerging sectors such as AgriTech, Renewable Energy, Retail, Marine, and Hospitality. Further, five ITIs will be upgraded into Utkarsh ITIs, 25 ITIs will be developed as Centres of Excellence, and a new Precision Engineering Building will provide advanced technical training.
He laid the foundation stone for the upgradation of MKCG Medical College in Berhampur and VIMSAR in Sambhalpur into world-class super-speciality hospitals. The upgraded facilities will include enhanced bed capacity, trauma care units, dental colleges, maternal and child care services, and expanded academic infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive health services for the people of Odisha.
