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PM Modi addresses at Kshetriya Panchayati Raj Parishad in West Bengal via VC

Published By : Admin | August 12, 2023 | 10:32 IST
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Addressing the Kshetriya Panchayati Raj Parishad in West Bengal via video conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that the no-confidence motion tabled by the Opposition against the NDA government was defeated in the Lok Sabha. “The situation was such that the people of the opposition left the house in the middle of the discussion and ran away. The truth is that they were scared of voting on the no-confidence motion,” he said.


PM Modi pointed out that the nation observed the opposition's departure from the no-confidence motion debate. However, he said, "It is disheartening that these individuals greatly let down the people of Manipur. Since the outset, the government sought a dedicated and focused discourse on Manipur. Regrettably, their motives were different."


Criticizing the TMC-led government in West Bengal, he highlighted the ongoing struggle of his party karyakartas in the state. He referred to recent Panchayat elections, pointing out alleged TMC bloody game - obstructing BJP candidates from filling forms, preventing their participation, and resorting to violent attacks even when BJP candidates manage to win. This, he claimed, exemplifies the TMC's political approach in West Bengal.


PM Modi asserted that the neglect of Eastern India after independence has hurt the country's progress the most. He highlighted efforts to close this developmental gap, noting that a significant portion of the 13.5 crore people lifted out of poverty in the last 5 years hail from Eastern India. He further stated, “In our country, for the last 50 years, slogans were given – ‘Garibi Hatao’. But those who gave this slogan could not remove poverty. A natural question is that the work which could not be done in five decades, how has the BJP government done it in such a short time?”


Discussing the advantages brought forth by the government's initiatives in Eastern India, PM Modi stated, "About 18,000 villages across the nation, previously devoid of electricity, have now been illuminated by the government. Of these, about 13,000 villages were from Eastern India only. On 15 August 2019, we launched the Jal Jeevan Mission. During its inception, less than 20 percent of rural households in the country had access to tap water. Today, more than 60 percent rural families are getting water from taps.”


“Many of you will be surprised to know that in a state like Mizoram till 4 years ago only 6 percent of the houses had piped water access. Today this number is more than 90 percent. In the last 9 years in Bihar, more than 50 lakh houses have been built under PM Gramin Awas Yojana. About 45 lakh poor families have got pucca houses in West Bengal. In Assam too, 20 lakh houses have been built for the poor,” he added.


Highlighting the rapid development in Eastern India, PM Modi said, “For better health facilities, from Guwahati in Assam to Kalyani in West Bengal, From Deoghar in Jharkhand to Darbhanga in Bihar, New AIIMS have been opened with this planning so that people do not have to travel hundreds of kilometers for treatment. Over the past 9 years, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha have collectively received 31 new medical colleges, while the North East has seen a doubling of medical college numbers.”


The Prime Minister noted the conversion of North East railway lines to broad gauge, significant capacity growth in major ports, establishment of new waterways, and the development of 9 airports to enhance air connectivity in the region. He expressed the anticipation of a profound transformation in the vast eastern part of the country due to these initiatives.


PM Modi iterated, "In the present times, local demand holds global significance. That's why, with a campaign like Vocal for Local, the country launched the ‘One District One Product’ scheme. Panchayats can significantly contribute by facilitating the introduction of your district's unique specialties to the market, thereby enhancing product quality. Your efforts should aim to link small-scale workers and industries with the market, facilitating their connection through the GEM portal. The GI tag also holds substantial value in elevating the success of local products."


Also, PM Modi emphasized the revitalization of dormant ponds and lakes, urging active participation in the Amrit Sarovar initiative, with a hope that your district takes a lead. He further advocated for an increased tree planting effort, emphasizing the need for efficient and effective execution of these endeavors.


During the event, PM Modi called upon all karyakartas to actively engage in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, advocating for the display of the national flag at every household. He also encouraged the linkage of villages with the ongoing Amrit Kalash Yatra, a tribute to the country's martyrs.

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Cabinet approves Rs 1,526.21 crore upgrade of NH-326 in Odisha
December 31, 2025

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the widening and strengthening of existing 2-Lane to 2-Lane with Paved Shoulder from Km 68.600 to Km 311.700 of NH-326 in the State of Odisha under NH(O) on EPC mode.

Financial implications:

The total capital cost for the project is Rs.1,526.21 crore, which includes a civil construction cost of Rs.966.79 crore.

Benefits:

The upgradation of NH-326 will make travel faster, safer, and more reliable, resulting in overall development of southern Odisha, particularly benefiting the districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput. Improved road connectivity will directly benefit local communities, industries, educational institutions, and tourism centres by enhancing access to markets, healthcare, and employment opportunities, thereby contributing to the region’s inclusive growth.

Details:

  • The section of Mohana–Koraput of the National Highway (NH-326) at present have sub-standard geometry (intermediate lane/2-lane, many deficient curves and steep gradients); the existing road alignment, carriageway width and geometric deficiencies constrain safe, efficient movement of heavy vehicles and reduce freight throughput to coastal ports and industrial centres. These constraints will be removed by upgrading the corridor to 2-lane with paved shoulders with geometric corrections (curve realignments and gradient improvements), removal of black spots and pavement strengthening, enabling safe and uninterrupted movement of goods and passengers and reducing vehicle operating costs.
  • The upgradation will provide direct and improved connectivity from Mohana–Koraput into major economic and logistics corridors — linking with NH-26, NH-59, NH-16 and the Raipur–Visakhapatnam corridor and improving last-mile access to Gopalpur port, Jeypore airport and several railway stations. The corridor connects important industrial and logistic nodes (JK Paper, Mega Food Park, NALCO, IMFA, Utkal Alumina, Vedanta, HAL) and education/tourism hubs (Central University of Odisha, Koraput Medical College, Taptapani, Rayagada), thereby facilitating faster freight movement, reducing travel time and enabling regional economic development.
  • The project lies in southern Odisha (districts of Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput) and will significantly improve intra-state and inter-state connectivity by making vehicle movement faster and safer, stimulating industrial and tourism growth and improving access to services in aspirational and tribal areas. Economic analysis shows the project’s EIRR at 17.95% (base case) while the financial return (FIRR) is negative (-2.32%), reflecting the social and non-market benefits captured in the economic appraisal; the economic justification is driven largely by travel-time and vehicle-operating-cost savings and safety benefits (including an estimated travel-time saving of about 2.5–3.0 hours and a distance saving of ~12.46 km between Mohana and Koraput after geometric improvements).

Implementation strategy and targets:

  • The work will be implemented on EPC mode. Contractors will be required to adopt proven construction and quality-assurance technologies, which may include precast box-type structures and precast drains, precast RCC/PSC girders for bridges and grade separators, precast crash barriers and friction slabs on Reinforced-Earth wall portions, and Cement Treated Sub-Base (CTSB) in pavement layers. Quality and progress will be verified through specialized survey and monitoring tools such as Network Survey Vehicle (NSV), periodic drone-mapping. Day-to-day supervision will be carried out by an appointed Authority Engineer and project monitoring will be conducted through the Project Monitoring Information System (PMIS).
  • The work is targeted to be completed in 24 months from the appointed date for each package, followed by a five-year defect liability/maintenance period (total contract engagement envisaged as 7 years: 2 years construction + 5 years DLP). Contract award will follow after completion of statutory clearances and required land possession.

Major impact, including employment generation potential:

  • This project is aimed at providing faster and safer movement of traffic and improving connectivity between the southern and eastern parts of Odisha, particularly linking the districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput with the rest of the State and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The improved road network will facilitate industrial growth, promote tourism, enhance access to education and healthcare facilities, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the tribal and backward regions of southern Odisha.
  • Various activities undertaken during the construction and maintenance period are expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. The project will also boost local industries involved in the supply of construction materials, transportation, equipment maintenance, and related services, thus supporting the regional economy.
  • The project is located in the State of Odisha and traverses three districts — Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput. The corridor connects major towns such as Mohana, Rayagada, Laxmipur, and Koraput, providing improved intra-state connectivity within Odisha and enhancing inter-state linkage with Andhra Pradesh through the southern end of NH-326.

Background:

Government has declared the stretch “the Highway starting from its junction with NH-59 near Aska, passing through Mohana, Raipanka, Amalabhata, Rayagada, Laxmipur and terminating at its junction with NH-30 near Chinturu in the State of Odisha” as NH-326 vide Gazette Notification dated 14th August 2012.