Bhubaneswar, Sep 27: On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 60,000 crore at Jharsuguda in Odisha on Saturday. These initiatives span education, healthcare, infrastructure, rural housing and skill development, aligning with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat.’

Dharmendra Pradhan’s Remarks
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined the ‘Seva Parv 2025’ with NDA leaders through video conference from Patna and called the day as “momentous” for Odisha and India.

A momentous day in the growth trajectory of Odisha and our nation!

On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji has dedicated gifts worth ₹60,000 crore from Jharsuguda resonating with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat.’ These developmental projects… pic.twitter.com/NwtT4gG4sy

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 27, 2025

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Pradhan said, “On behalf of the people of Sambalpur and Odisha, I thank PM Modi ji for the developmental projects that will ensure Odisha takes a giant leap towards inclusive growth and development under the Purvodaya vision.”

“These developmental projects across sectors will fulfil aspirations, bring prosperity, improve quality-of-life, catalyse all-round regional growth, empower citizens, fuel self-reliance and add new momentum to socio-economic development of Odisha and the country with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’,” he added.

Multi-Sectoral Boost for Odisha
Among the key highlights, over 97,500 mobile 4G towers built with indigenous technology were commissioned, including 92,600 BSNL sites. These solar-powered towers will connect 26,700 remote villages, serving over 20 lakh new subscribers, and form India’s largest green telecom cluster.

In the railway sector, PM Modi laid the foundation for the Sambalpur–Sarla Rail Flyover and dedicated the Koraput–Baiguda and Manabar–Koraput–Gorapur lines. He also flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express between Berhampur and Udhna (Surat), enhancing interstate connectivity and economic integration.

Education, Skills & Healthcare
The Prime Minister announced the expansion of eight IITs—including Bhilai, Dharwad, Jammu, Jodhpur, Palakkad, Indore, Patna, and Tirupati—at a cost of Rs 11,000 crore. This will create 10,000 new seats and establish eight research parks, strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem. The MERITE scheme was launched to modernize 275 engineering and polytechnic institutions.

In healthcare, foundation stones were laid for upgrading MKCG Medical College in Berhampur and VIMSAR in Burla, Sambalpur into super-speciality hospitals. Additionally, World Skill Centres in Sambalpur and Berhampur, upgraded ITIs, and Wi-Fi access across 130 higher education institutions were announced.