Sambalpur: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 25 key development projects worth over Rs 948 crore in Sambalpur, in a major boost to infrastructure and public facilities in the district.
On the first day of his two-day visit to Sambalpur, the Chief Minister inaugurated 14 projects worth over Rs 57 crore and laid foundation stones for 11 others to be implemented at a cost of more than Rs 890 crore.
Officials said the development initiatives cover a wide range of sectors including road and bridge construction, health infrastructure, warehouses, Atal bus stands, girls’ hostels, tourism promotion, drinking water supply and other civic amenities.
Speaking at a public gathering, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to accelerating the pace of development in Sambalpur as the district’s progress is integral to Odisha’s vision of balanced progress and good governance.
These projects would add a new chapter to Sambalpur’s development journey and generate a fresh wave of growth in the district, ultimately contributing to the goal of building a prosperous Odisha, he said.
Describing Sambalpur as one of the most beautiful cities in the state, Majhi expressed confidence that the city’s shape and beauty would further improve once the projects are completed.
Referring to religious tourism, the CM said riverfront development work around the Maa Samaleswari Temple, a major Shakti Peeth of Odisha, is being implemented in two phases with a total investment of Rs 316 crore. The first phase includes construction of a corridor around the temple, development of Gopaljieu Matha, a lighthouse, parking facilities and riverfront beautification. The second phase will focus on building accommodation facilities for devotees, a lake zone, shop buildings, a food park, parking areas and improved entrance pathways.
As part of efforts to strengthen tourism, a Rs 160 crore Mahanadi Riverfront Development projec
t is underway to develop the riverbank stretch from Mandalia to Chaunrapur, the Chief Minister said, adding that the project will include parks, open gyms, selfie points, bathing ghats, Aarti ghats, shopping complexes, toilets and parking facilities, making the riverfront a major attraction for residents and tourists alike.
On industrial growth, the Chief Minister said industrialisation in Odisha was earlier limited to a few select regions, leaving many districts without major industries or large enterprises. Since the formation of the present government, efforts have been intensified to establish industries in all 30 districts of the state. He said that planned investments of around Rs 1.8 lakh crore in the coming days would help industrialise every district, while noting that the overall pace of development in Odisha has accelerated significantly over the last one and a half years.
The Chief Minister emphasised that his government believes in people-centric governance and is actively engaging with citizens through public grievance hearings and their speedy redressal. He said governance is not confined to offices in Bhubaneswar and that the government is open to correcting policies and rules whenever required to make them more people-oriented, adding that the people themselves are the core of good governance.
He said the government aims to achieve excellence in education, health, industry and infrastructure, and special efforts are being made to ensure that basic facilities reach even those living at the last mile of society.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government is making all possible efforts to place Sambalpur firmly on the path of progress, and that the results are now visible to the public. Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Rural Development Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said the double-engine government is fulfilling its promise of double development by ensuring growth reaches every district and every village.
The programme was attended by Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, former MLA Nauri Naik, and Revenue Divisional Commissioner Ramachandra Yadav,
Officials said the Chief Minister is slated to inaugurate the newly constructed Trauma Care Unit, OPD Building and CSSD Building at the District Headquarters Hospital and lay the foundation stone for a 24-hour drinking water supply system for Sambalpur city on Sunday.