CM Seeks Land To Build Community Centre For Odias In Surat

Bhubaneswar: Two days ahead his visit to Surat, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to his Gujarat counterpart, Vijay Rupani, requesting him for an acre of land for building a community centre in Surat to meet the requirements of Odia community for their social celebrations.

He said more than 7 lakh people from Odisha reside in Surat and are engaged in power loom, dyeing and printing, diamond cutting. “The proposed complex shall also serve as a nerve centre of cultural exchange between Odisha and Gujarat,” he said, seeking early action in this matter.

The Chief Minister also shot off two letters to the Ministries concerned, reiterating Odisha’s request for direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Surat and two new daily trains between Berhampur and Surat.

In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu, Naveen said a large number of Odia people have settled in Surat and are engaged in various spheres of trade, commerce and industry. In case of emergency, they face difficulties in reaching their home state in the absence of direct air connectivity.

The Chief Minister said that directly flights can give rise to tourist inflow to both the places.

“I would, therefore, once again request you to impress upon Air India and other private airlines to introduce direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Surat at the earliest,” he said.

Naveen also mentioned about the earlier letter in this regard sent on August 24, 2018.

In his letter to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, the Chief Minister said there is not a single train service directly connecting Berhampur and Surat although more than 7 lakh people of South Odisha, especially from Ganjam district, are residing there and have various travelling needs.

There are other trains originating and terminating at further stations, but these are not only inconvenient but also inadequate to cater to the requirement of people of Odisha residing in Surat, he said.

“I would, therefore, once again request you to consider introduction of two daily trains between Berhampur and Surat at the earliest,” he added.

He had requested for the same through a letter earlier on August 28, 2018.