Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to kickstart a historic development wave in Western Odisha today, unveiling a staggering Rs 60,000 crore worth of infrastructure and welfare projects that span telecom, railways, education, healthcare, and housing.
📡 India’s Largest Green Telecom Push
Modi will launch over 97,500 solar-powered 4G mobile towers, including 92,600 BSNL sites and 18,900 Digital Bharat Nidhi-funded towers, connecting 26,700 remote villages. This rollout will benefit 20 lakh new subscribers, especially in border and LWE-affected regions—marking India’s biggest leap toward sustainable digital inclusion.
🚆 Rail Connectivity Gets a Boost
Key railway projects include:
- Sambalpur–Sarla rail flyover foundation stone
- Koraput–Baiguda line doubling
- Manabar–Koraput–Gorapur line dedication
These upgrades will supercharge freight and passenger movement across Odisha and neighbouring states. The PM will also flag off the Amrit Bharat Express between Berhampur and Surat, enhancing interstate travel, tourism, and trade.
🎓 ₹11,000 Crore for IIT Expansion & Innovation
Eight IITs—Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, Dharwad, Jodhpur, Patna, and Indore—will be expanded to accommodate 10,000 more students and host eight cutting-edge research parks, reinforcing India’s R&D ecosystem.
🛠️ Skill Development for Future-Ready Odisha
Under MERITE, 275 engineering and polytechnic institutes will be upgraded nationwide. Odisha will see:
- World Skill Centres in Sambalpur & Berhampur
- 5 ITIs upgraded to Utkarsh ITIs
- 25 ITIs as Centres of Excellence
- A new Precision Engineering Building for advanced training
🏥 Super-Specialty Healthcare for All
Modi will lay the foundation for transforming MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) and VIMSAR (Sambalpur) into world-class hospitals with trauma units, dental colleges, maternal care, and expanded academic infrastructure.
📶 Free Wi-Fi for 2.5 Lakh Students
130 higher education institutions across Odisha will receive daily free data access, empowering students with seamless digital learning.
🏠 Housing for the Vulnerable
Under Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, 50,000 pucca houses will be sanctioned for rural families including persons with disabilities, widows, terminally ill individuals, and disaster victims.
ALSO READ: Traffic Advisory Issued for PM Modi’s Visit to Jharsuguda
