Rourkela: President Droupadi Murmu was received by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Majhi as she arrived in Rourkela for her first-ever visit to the steel city in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, where she is set to inaugurate several major civic, cultural, and recreational projects aimed at boosting urban infrastructure and preserving tribal heritage.
She is scheduled to address a grand public gathering at a venue in Sector-13 near Rourkela Airport, which is expected to be attended by over 10,000 school students, who will also participate in cultural performances. More than 2,500–3,000 students have been rehearsing Odissi, Sambalpuri, Santali, and Sundargarh Karma dances, along with tribal cultural presentations by Munda, Khadia, Oram, and Bhuian communities.
Exhibitions by Self-Help Groups will also be on display. The venue has a seating capacity of 15,000–20,000, with special arrangements for heat relief including air conditioners, coolers, and drinking water kiosks.
The President will then inaugurate the Rourkela One Project near Hockey Square in Civil Township. This flagship initiative includes: An Integrated Command and Control Centre, a state-of-the-art Tribal Museum (to be handed over to the State ST & SC Department) and an auditorium These facilities are designed to enhance smart city governance, showcase tribal culture and traditions, and serve as community hubs.
From the venue, President Murmu will virtually inaugurate two major recreational and educational projects: A mega recreational park at Koel Nagar and Science Park and Planetarium at Chhend Colony
She will have lunch at the Panposh Circuit House, where she will also interact with representatives of various organisations for nearly two hours. The venue has been specially decorated for the occasion.
She is expected to leave Rourkela Airport around 4:05 PM and return to New Delhi via Jharsuguda.
The Sundargarh administration, in coordination with Rourkela Municipal Corporation, has left no stone unturned in preparations. Roads along the President’s convoy route have been freshly black-topped, government buildings repainted, and a multi-layered security cover — including about 50 platoons of police — has been deployed in line with Blue Book protocol.
