Rs 1500 Cr to Be Spent for Biju Expressway Project in Rayagada Dist Alone

Bhubaneswar: Biju Expressway from Berhampur to Jeypore will immensely benefit the people of Rayagada district in terms of socio and economic development. Out of 335 km of this important highway, which connects south Odisha with west Odisha, over 120 km will pass through Rayagada district.

Rs 1500 crore will be sanctioned to make over 120 km of Biju Expressway in Rayagada district alone, said Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian on his second day of visit in the district.

The 5T Secretary on Thursday visited various areas of Kashipur, Bissamcuttack, Padmapur and Gunupur blocks to review the development works.

At Kashipur, Pandian reviewed the progress of construction of new community health centre and urged the administration to complete it immediately. He praised the doctors for providing good healthcare services in the region.

The 5T Secretary informed that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is giving special importance on higher education in Kashipur. A +3 degree college will be established at Kashipur. The State Government will soon take a decision in this regard, he said.

The 5T Secretary also said that all remaining high schools of the district will be transformed under 5T within six months.

Drinking water supply through pipe will reach to each house of Kashipur by 2023.

The 5T Secretary also met members of Adi Shakti SHG of Mission Shakti at Khurigaon of Kashipur Block and visited the mushroom seed center run by them. During the discussion, Pandian advised the Mission Shakti members to start large enterprises of high value and assured that the Government would provide all kinds of support for this.

Smart ID card for each Community Resource Persons under Mission Shakti will be provided by the State Government. Vehicle will be provided to each BLF.

In Bissamcuttack, the 5T Secretary visited the Mission Shakti Cafe run by the Mission Shakti Block Level Federation. While interacting with the SHG members, Pandian emphasized on the variety of food preparation to attract the customers. He also visited the under-construction eco-tourism project in Khajuri village and discussed the development in the area with the local people and officials.

The 5T Secretary also met the Dongria Kondhs and discussed about their living conditions. He directed the administration to involve more and more youths in the making of shawls as there is a special demand for the cloth shawls made by Dongria Kondhs.

The 5T Secretary also discussed about the beautification of the Gadgada water fall and the Neliabandha in Bissamcuttack. He urged the district administration to prepare a DPR within a month for both the sites.

Pandian also visited the famous Mattarbanam Temple of the Soura tribe in Padmapur block. He informed during the discussion that the development work of this temple will be done jointly by the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Department and the District Administration. He met the farmers at the RMC yard in Khilamunda Panchayat of Padmapur block and heard their problems. He inquired about the different crops they produce and their marketing system and the irrigation system of the area.

Pandian informed that plans will be made by the irrigation department and the district administration for the full utilization of irrigation capacity in the Padmapur block.

The 5T Secretary visited Rameswar Mahasambhu Shiva Temple in Gunupur block and held discussions with the Sevayats and members of the Trust Board of the temple. He advised to prepare a detailed development plan of the temple within a month and send it to the tourism department.

Sports Secretary R. Vineel Krishna, Rayagada Collector and other senior officials were present during the 5T Secretary’s visit.