Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated and laid the foundation for various development projects worth Rs. 890 crore in Belapada and Patnagarh during his two-day visit to Balangir district. A total of 83 projects were launched, encompassing irrigation, health infrastructure, piped water supply, bridge, and road construction.
Addressing public meetings in Belapada and Patnagarh, Majhi highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering balanced development across the state.
One of the major highlights was the foundation stone laying for the upgrade of the 1,330-meter Tusura Airstrip runway at a cost of Rs. 65 crore. Once completed, the airstrip will achieve 2-B category status, enabling direct flights between Balangir and Bhubaneswar and boosting local connectivity and economic growth.
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation for the Upper Lantha Irrigation Project in Belapada Block, valued at over Rs. 300 crore. Majhi emphasized that this initiative would provide vital irrigation facilities in low-irrigation areas. The project is expected to irrigate over 15,000 acres during the Kharif and Rabi seasons, benefiting approximately 38,000 farmers from 25 villages in Belapada block. The project will feature a 2,495-meter-long dam on the Lanth River and generate 210 kilowatts of electricity through hydropower units.
Majhi stated, “This project will revolutionize irrigation and resolve long-standing water scarcity issues in the region, contributing significantly to the agricultural prosperity of Belapada.”
The Chief Minister also inaugurated Patnagarh Sub-divisional Hospital, the Dialysis Center in Patnagarh, and the Dialysis Center in Titlagarh. Additionally, he laid the foundation for a bypass road in Patnagarh with a budget of Rs. 118 crore, aiming to improve local transport and accessibility.
In his remarks, Majhi underscored the importance of addressing decades-long developmental disparities in Balangir, emphasizing the district’s significance in Western Odisha’s growth. Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo assured the audience that the Upper Lanth project would be completed on schedule, reinforcing the government’s commitment.
The CM also acknowledged the progress of the Khurda-Balangir railway project, crediting the advancement to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event saw the presence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Lok Sabha MP Sangita Singh Deo, Rajya Sabha MP Niranjan Bishi, Kantabanji MLA Laxman Bagh, and Balangir Collector Gaurav Shivaji Isalwar, who all showed support for the district’s development trajectory.