Odisha Demands 2nd AIIMS At Sambalpur In Centre’s Pre-Budget Meeting

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has raised its demand for second All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state along with higher allocations for several sectors at the pre-budget meeting of the Central government.

Deputy Chief Minister K V Singhdeo made the demand in the meeting of finance ministers of the states before the Union Budget. The meeting was chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Saturday.

Singhdeo attended the meeting on behalf of chief minister Mohan Majhi, who holds the finance portfolio, due to the latter’s prior engagement in Odisha. The deputy chief minister wanted allocation in Central budget to set up second AIIMS at Sambalpur. The first AIIMS in the state at Bhubaneswar is already in the operation.

Singhdeo also sought budgetary allocation for implementing Subhadra scheme in the state. The state government would pay Rs 50,000 to every eligible woman under the scheme to be encashed over a period of two years. It was an election promise of the BJP in Odisha.

The deputy chief minister also sought central assistance for construction of 5 lakh houses under Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) and early completion of highway projects, including 348-km coastal highway project under Bharatmala Pariyojana and 111-km Odisha Capital Region Ring Road (CRRR) project, having six-lane access-controlled highway around Bhubaneswar and Cuttack city by NHAI, for socio-economic growth.

Following are other issues flagged by Singhdeo:

• Support of the Union Government for creation of an enabling environment to attract international investors and semiconductor industries to Odisha, promotion of the state as an investment hub, expansion of Paradip port
• Higher allocation under Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SACI), 2024-25 to further accelerate infrastructure development
• Advance indication of the state-wise annual allocation under CSS schemes at the time of budget formulation which would enable the states to prepare their budgets on a realistic basis and ensure timely and effective utilisation of funds
• Support of the Central Government for new city development and rapid urbanization in Odisha; and

Addressing power sector issues through inclusion of Odisha DISCOMs under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), financial support for adoption of new technologies such as green hydrogen, and central funding for Green Energy Corridor projects in Odisha.

Union Finance Minister assured to look into the demands raised by Singhdeo in the meeting.