Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that infrastructure development has been the prime focus of the Modi government during the last nine years.
Shah, who inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of National Highway projects along with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said no development in the country is possible without the development of infrastructure.
The Union Home Minister claimed that during 2022–2023, every day 22 km of national highway road will be laid, compared to 12 km during 2014–15.
Inaugurating the 51-kilometre-long 4-lane stretch on National Highway (NH) 53 connecting Kamkhyanagar and Duburi, Shah said the road will connect the mineral-rich Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha with the national highways and the country, strengthening the economy of the state.
The 51 km long, 4-lane stretch of national highway, he said, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 761 crore and has two major bridges, seven minor bridges, seven underpasses, two animal underpasses, and a 1.73 km long bypass.
The Union Home Minister also laid the foundation for widening and strengthening of the Moter to Bannervia via Ladugaon road in Kalahadi district.
Shah praised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for always supporting the infrastructure development undertaken by the Modi government and playing a major role in combating the naxal menace in the state.
He said the Modi government had provided Rs 23,83,000 lakh crore to Odisha during the last 9 years as against Rs 2,93,000 lakh crore provided by the UPA government during 2004 to 2014.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the Biju Expressway, the Economic corridor will be crucial to propel the development in the region. The state government, he said, has always given importance to connectivity as it is the key to progress and empowerment.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallik, senior NHAI officials, and state government officials were present on the occasion on Saturday.
Later in the day, Shah will hold review meetings on left-wing extremism and Disaster Management with officials of the Odisha government.
He would also hold a meeting with the newly appointed office bearers of the Odisha BJP and discuss with them the preparedness of the Party for the 2024 Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections in the state before leaving for New Delhi.
