The long-standing demand of Rourkela denizens for establishment of a passport office in the steel city is going to be met soon. Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray said Union External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj assured this to him and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram when they met her in New Delhi on Thursday. Ray said the External Affairs Minister told them that steps are already afoot on to set up a passport office at Rourkela soon.“This is good news for the people of Rourkela as well as the State, and it indicates that how the Central Government is serious in fulfilling its promises,” opined Ray.
Ray also informed that the Union Highways, Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari has told them that the tender process for the Biramitrapur-Barkot Highway has been finalised and would be floated by end of this month.A BJP team from State, comprising him, Oram and some Rourkela leaders, met Gadkari on the day, Ray told mediapersons here. Meanwhile, a source close to MlA Ray said Gadkari would visit Odisha on July 9 in order to lay foundation stone of the second Brahmani Bridge and to take stock of developmental works being going on for the ensuing Nabakalebar Rath Yatra in Puri. Ray thanked both the Ministers for taking steps to meet genuine demands of Rourkela people.