Union Home Minister Amit Shah has all praise for Odisha and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his address here at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhawan.
Shri Shah along with the Chief Minister dedicated four laning of Kamakhyanagar-Duburi section of NH-53 here on Saturday in presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Works Minister Prafulla Mallik.
They also laid foundation stone for widening and strengthening another NH project from Moter to Banner via Ludugaon Road of Kalahandi district.
The Union Minister has lauded the Odisha Government for its initiatives taken for disaster management. Earlier, the entire world came to know about cyclones in Odisha for huge casualties.
Now, in disasters, Odisha achieves ‘Zero Casualty’. Odisha has shown the way to the entire country in disaster management, Shri Shah said.
Union Minister Shri Shah also praised the Naveen Patnaik Government in its effort to combat LWE activities.
During nine years, the left wing extremism (LWE) activities have come down in the country including Odisha. The number of LWE incidents have decreased by 30 percent in between 2015 to 2019, while the causality in Naxal attacks went down by 32 per cent and there was a 56 per cent decrease in causality of security personnel in LWE menaces, the Home Minister said.
“I want to thank the Odisha Government and Naveen Babu for always supporting us in the fight against LWE forces,” he said.
He also presented the nine years report card of the Modi Government. During UPA time, Odisha had got Rs 1.14 lakh crore from the devolution fund and grant-in-aid. However, the amount has not been enhanced to Rs 4.57 lakh crore. In total funding to Odisha, the amount has been enhanced from Rs 3 lakh crore to Rs 18 lakh crore, he pointed out.
The Modi Government will leave no stone untouched for the development of Odisha, assured the Union Minister.
The 51 km Kamakhyanagar-Duburi NH project was constructed with a cost of Rs 761 crore. This project will connect mineral rich Angul and Dhenkanal districts with other parts of Odisha and country, said Shah.
The NH project consists of two major bridges, 10 minor bridges, seven vehicles under passes, two animal-under passes and a 1.73 km long bypass road.
Country’s development and economic development is directly connected with the national highways and the Modi government has taken a lot of steps for development of NHs during the last nine years, he said.
The Union Home Minister further said the 15 km NH project from Moter to Banner in Kalahandi district will be constructed with a cost of Rs 34 crore.
During Modi Government tenure, infrastructure projects like constructions of NHs, irrigation projects, dams, bridges, PMGSY have been given priority and a huge amount of fund has been infused into this sector, he said, adding, PM Narendra Modi believes that development of nation cannot be done without the development of infrastructures.
The Modi Government has enhanced the peace of NH construction work by adopting new technologies and expediting the land acquisition process. In the year 2014-15, only 12 km of national highway were constructed each day in India, which was increased to 29 km per day in the year 202-22, he pointed out.
In Odisha a lot of national highway projects have been constructed during the period. The Modi Government has adopted a ‘look east’ policy and always focus was given to Odisha, he added.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said connectivity is key to progress and empowerment of the people. The state government has constructed Gurupriya Setu in Malkangiri to connect the Swabhiman Anchal (earlier known as cut-off area), Shri Patnaik said.
He pointed out the annual budget of the Works department has seen a quantum jump from Rs 280 crore in 2000-01 to more than Rs 15,000 crore now.
“Odisha always believes in cooperative federalism and I thank the Government of India for its support to the state in its development agenda. I once again warmly welcome Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Odisha,” the CM said.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Modi Government has provided Rs 18.83 lakh crore to Odisha while the previous Government had provided Rs 2.93 lakh crore to the state during 2004 to 2014.
Shri Shah, who arrived here last night, will hold crucial meetings with state BJP party leaders this afternoon. He is also likely to make strategy for the 2024 general and Assembly elections. He will return to Delhi in the Evening after having a brief meeting at the airport.