PM Modi to Launch Rs 60,000 Crore Development Projects in Odisha: Telecom, Railways, Education and Healthcare Initiatives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on Saturday to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple development projects valued at over Rs 60,000 crore in Jharsuguda, according to an official statement released Friday.

These comprehensive projects encompass various sectors including telecommunications, railways, higher education, healthcare, skill development, and rural housing. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public gathering during the event.

In the telecommunications sector, PM Modi will commission more than 97,500 mobile 4G towers constructed at an approximate cost of Rs 37,000 crore using indigenous Swadeshi technology. This massive infrastructure initiative includes over 92,600 4G technology sites commissioned by BSNL.

Additionally, more than 18,900 4G sites have been funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi program, which aims to connect approximately 26,700 previously unconnected villages in remote, border, and left-wing extremism-affected areas. These new sites are expected to serve over 20 lakh new subscribers.

A notable feature of these telecommunications towers is their solar-powered design, making them India's largest cluster of green telecom sites and representing a significant advancement in sustainable infrastructure development.

The Prime Minister will also initiate several important railway projects designed to enhance connectivity and stimulate regional growth. These include laying the foundation stone for a Rail Flyover at Sambalpur-Sarla and dedicating to the nation the doubling of the Koraput-Baiguda line and the Manabar-Koraput-Gorapur line.

These railway developments are expected to substantially improve both freight and passenger movement throughout Odisha and neighboring states, strengthening local industries and trade networks.

During the event, PM Modi will flag off the Amrit Bharat Express connecting Berhampur and Udhna (Surat), providing affordable and comfortable transportation across states, supporting tourism, generating employment opportunities, and linking key economic districts.

In the education sector, the Prime Minister will lay foundation stones for the expansion of eight Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) - located in Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, Dharwad, Jodhpur, Patna, and Indore - with an investment of approximately Rs 11,000 crore.

This expansion will create capacity for 10,000 additional students over the next four years and establish eight state-of-the-art research parks, thereby strengthening India's innovation ecosystem and providing substantial support for research and development initiatives.

PM Modi will launch the MERITE scheme designed to enhance quality, equity, research, and innovation in 275 state engineering and polytechnic institutions across the country.

The Odisha Skill Development Project Phase II will also be inaugurated, establishing World Skill Centres in Sambalpur and Berhampur. These centers will focus on emerging sectors such as AgriTech, Renewable Energy, Retail, Marine, and Hospitality.

Furthermore, five Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will be upgraded to Utkarsh ITIs, 25 ITIs will be developed as Centres of Excellence, and a new Precision Engineering Building will provide advanced technical training opportunities.

To enhance digital education access in the state, the Prime Minister will dedicate Wi-Fi facilities across 130 higher education institutions, providing free daily data access to benefit more than 2.5 lakh students.

Healthcare infrastructure in Odisha will receive significant improvements during the Prime Minister's visit. He will lay the foundation stone for the upgradation of MKCG Medical College in Berhampur and VIMSAR in Sambhalpur into world-class super-speciality hospitals.

These upgraded medical facilities will feature enhanced bed capacity, trauma care units, dental colleges, maternal and child care services, and expanded academic infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive health services for Odisha's residents.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will distribute sanction orders to 50,000 beneficiaries under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana. This scheme provides 'pucca' houses and financial assistance to vulnerable rural families, including persons with disabilities, widows, individuals suffering from terminal illness, and victims of natural calamities.

This initiative reflects the government's commitment to ensuring social welfare and dignity for the most disadvantaged sections of society.