Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 68,000 crore during a public programme in Sambalpur, Odisha on February 3.
This will be the first political visit by a key BJP leader in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls to be held later this year. In 2019, BJP took up all five Lok Sabha seats in the western part of the state and it is hopeful of repeating the scenario once again.
Additionally, the BJP aims to take on Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has been in power in the state for the last five consecutive terms. During the last Lok Sabha election, the BJD won 12 out of 21 seats while the BJP bagged eight seats and the Congress only one. Of the eight seats the BJP won, five are situated in the western pocket of Odisha, which includes Sambalpur.
This year, with the buzz around Ram Temple consecration ceremony in the country and the investments being undertaken in the state, the party hopes it will be able to add on to the success of last elections.
PM Modi's plans during Odisha visit
In Sambalpur, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate to nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple power projects worth about Rs 28,980 crore. These power projects will supply low-cost power to Odisha as well as several other states.
He will lay the foundation stone of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) Talabira Thermal power project worth more than Rs 27,000 crore.
Prime Minister will inaugurate coal infrastructure projects of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited including First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects - Bhubaneswari Phase-I in Talcher Coalfields in Angul district and Lajkura Rapid Loading System (RLS).
He will also inaugurate three road sector projects of National Highways, developed at a cumulative cost of about Rs 2,110 crore. Furthermore, he will dedicate to nation and lay the foundation stone of railway projects worth about Rs 2,146 crore.
Moreover, the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur will also be inaugurated.
After Sambalpur, PM Modi will travel to Assam where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives worth more than Rs 11,000 crore during a public programme in Guwahati on February 4.
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