Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday launched an ambitious development drive in Keonjhar district by inaugurating and laying foundation stones for 71 projects with a total investment exceeding Rs 1,900 crore. The programme, held at the Dharanidhara University Ground, marked a significant step towards accelerating infrastructure growth and ensuring regional equity across the state.
Out of the total projects, foundation stones were laid for 35 initiatives worth around Rs 1,708 crore, while 36 completed projects involving an investment of Rs 194 crore were formally inaugurated. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said Keonjhar has reached a decisive moment in its development journey and reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure that progress reaches every district of Odisha without discrimination.
Majhi said the state government is working with a clear focus on removing regional imbalances by strengthening essential infrastructure at the local level. He highlighted that the projects span a wide range of sectors including education, health, irrigation, tourism, sports, and skill development. Facilities such as schools, hostels, roads, parking zones, ponds, libraries, career counselling centres, primary health centres, Anganwadi buildings and tourism infrastructure are being prioritised to improve the quality of life of people in the district.
Among the important initiatives launched were allocations for the Regional Plant Resource Centre, establishment of 147 model Anganwadi centres, construction of six block-level stadiums, development of academic and digital infrastructure such as ACRs and ICT labs, setting up of the Nicholson Forest Training School at Champua, and skill training programmes for youth in mining-affected areas under the DMF scheme.
Describing the pace of development as comparable to the power of a rocket engine, the Chief Minister said Keonjhar is blessed with abundant natural resources, a rich cultural heritage and a hardworking population. He noted that the district, already recognised as a major steel hub, will witness further infrastructure expansion including the development of six major roads and a ring road around Barbil to support industrial and economic growth.
Placing the Keonjhar initiatives within the broader context of statewide development, Majhi said the government is following a uniform approach across all 30 districts. He mentioned that foundation stones for 110 model primary schools were recently laid across Odisha, while projects worth hundreds of crores have been inaugurated in districts such as Sambalpur and Bargarh in recent weeks.
Sharing his long-term vision, the Chief Minister said the government is working towards building a Golden Odisha where education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, industry, investment and employment form the backbone of prosperity. He added that by 2036, Odisha aims to emerge as a model state with balanced industrial and infrastructural growth, ensuring that no district is left behind.
Apart from the development projects, the Chief Minister also released a coffee table book titled Birds of Keonjhar and distributed financial assistance to women beneficiaries from self-help groups, highlighting the importance of community participation in the development process.
The event was attended by Keonjhar Lok Sabha MP Ananta Charan Nayak, MLAs Sanatan Mahakud, Dr Fakir Mohan Naik and Akhila Chandra Naik, along with District Collector Vishal Singh, senior police officials and forest department authorities, reflecting wide administrative and public representation at the programme.
