Argus News - Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates, Lays Foundation For 78 Projects Worth Rs 375 Crore In Sambalpur

Sambalpur, Apr 14: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 78 development projects worth Rs 375 crore in Kuchinda, Bamra and Jamankira areas of Sambalpur district.

Odisha Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik and Sambalpur Collector Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar were present at the event, held at Makar Melan Ground in Bamra.

The projects are spread across Kuchinda, Bamra and Jamankira regions and aim to boost infrastructure, healthcare and connectivity.

Greetings And Development Push
Addressing the gathering, Pradhan extended greetings on Pana Sankranti, Odia New Year, Hanuman Jayanti, and the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar.

Pradhan said piped drinking water supply will reach every household in Kuchinda and Sambalpur under central funding approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Healthcare And Infrastructure Focus
The Union Minister laid the foundation stone for a 100-bed Sub-Divisional Hospital in Kuchinda, aimed at strengthening healthcare services in the region.

The Minister announced:

• Expansion of NH-49 from Jharsuguda to Kuchinda into a four-lane road
• Construction of a rail overbridge in Bamra
• Development of multiple health and community infrastructure projects

Two multipurpose welfare halls were also inaugurated to support social and community activities, particularly benefiting underprivileged groups.

Agriculture And Irrigation Initiatives
Pradhan said around 12 lakh quintals of paddy worth Rs 360 crore have been procured from the Kuchinda region.

He interacted with chilli farmers and said efforts will be made to develop agriculture into a more business-oriented sector.

ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର କୁଚିଣ୍ଡା ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଶୁଖିଲା ଲଙ୍କା ଚାଷ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ପରିଚୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଛି । ଆଜି ଏହି ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ଗସ୍ତ ସମୟରେ ଲଙ୍କା ଚାଷୀ ଗଗନ ବାବୁ ଓ ସୁରମା ଭଉଣୀଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟି ଆନନ୍ଦିତ । ଦୀର୍ଘ ୧୫ ବର୍ଷରୁ ଅଧିକ ସମୟ ଧରି ଲଙ୍କା ଚାଷ କରି ସେମାନେ ନିଜ ପରିବାର ପ୍ରତିପୋଷଣ କରିବା ସହ ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ କୃଷି ଅର୍ଥନୀତିରେ… pic.twitter.com/rUgzOJniEM

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 14, 2026

The Minister added that the recently approved Parvati Giri Irrigation Project will provide irrigation to 52 villages.

Vision For Developed Odisha
Highlighting long-term goals, Pradhan said Odisha aims to become a developed state by 2036, aligning with the national vision of a developed India by 2047.

He said the government is prioritising development in agriculture, irrigation, education, healthcare and transport sectors.

Also Read: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Launches Key Healthcare and Welfare Projects in Kuchinda

Women’s Reservation Mentioned
Referring to the scheduled constitutional amendment, Pradhan said Parliament, in 2023, approved 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, a constitutional amendment was passed in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in 2023 to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The government is now taking this initiative a step further by introducing another amendment. With the proposed increase in seats by 2029, women are expected to receive 33 per cent representation. The decision has received widespread support across the country," he said.

The Minister added that further steps are being taken to expand representation after seat delimitation, expected by 2029, and urged people to celebrate the move.