Bhubaneswar, Mar 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said a new era of development has started in Odisha which will boost industrial activities in the region and create new employment opportunities.

Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crores in the sectors of petroleum, natural gas, atomic energy, roadways, railways, and connectivity in Chandikhole and congratulated the people of Odisha for the development of these projects.

Addressing the gathering, at Chandikhol in Jajpur district, the Prime Minister said by the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Maa Biraja, a new stream of development started flowing today in Jajpur and Odisha.

The Prime Minister put forward the government’s approach of taking care of the present needs of the nation while working for the resolution of Viksit Bharat.

He said the government is making all efforts to enhance the capabilities of the Eastern states in the energy sector.

Under the Urja Ganga Yojana five big states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, major projects are underway for the supply of natural gas.

Underlining that today’s occasion is a symbol of the changing work culture in the country, the Prime Minister drew comparisons to the previous government which never took interest in completing the development projects.

While on the other hand, Modi claimed that his government has been inaugurating the projects on time whose foundation stones were laid.

Referring to the development projects that were completed after 2014, the Prime Minister mentioned the Paradip Refinery which became a topic of discussion in 2002 but no work was accomplished until the present government came to power in 2014.

He also mentioned inaugurating the Paradip – Hyderabad Pipeline in Sangareddy, Telangana on Monday and the 500 km long crude oil pipeline from Haldia to Barauni in Arambagh, West Bengal three days ago.

The central government, Modi said is making use of the abundance of natural resources in Eastern India for the development of Odisha and said the desalination plant in Ganjam district will treat almost 50 lakh litres of saline water every day and make it suitable for drinking.

The Prime Minister also said the Central government is focussing on modern connectivity in Odisha so that local resources increase the economy of the state.

He said that in the last 10 years, 3000 km long National Highways have been built in the state while the railway budget has been increased 12-fold.

The national highways are being expanded in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Khurda, Ganjam, Puri and Kendujhar in the state to improve Rail-Highway-Port connectivity,

He said the new Angul Sukinda railway line will open up the development of Kalinga Nagar Industrial area.

Modi concluded his speech by paying tributes to Biju Patnaik ji on his birth anniversary and congratulated the citizens for the development projects of today.

UNI