Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask concerned Ministries and Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) to expedite various infrastructure projects in Odisha.
In a letter on Thursday, Patnaik brought to Modi’s notice that many infrastructure projects being implemented by Ministries and CPSUs could be fast-tracked with mobilisation of additional resources, manpower, greater budgetary allocations and timely deposit of charges and procurements.
Notably, the Prime Minister had earlier asked Chief Ministers to pursue execution of major projects in their respective States after talking to Chief Secretaries about those projects through a video conferencing a few weeks ago.
These projects include doubling of Bhubaneswar-Puri railway line and four laning of the National Highway 203 from Bhubaneswar to Puri, which are very important for the upcoming Nabakalebar Festival in Puri. They are yet to be completed.
Since 2012, the State Government has been seeking expedition and timly completion of these two projects at different forums, including the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) meetings, which have been held for eight times.
Patnaik informed Modi about the priority given by the State Government for development of infrastructure projects, especially liner projects like railway corridors, roads and highways, oil pipelines, power transmission and issues pertaining to land acquisition and shifting of utilities.
Chief Minister wanted that delays at the end of the Ministry of Railways, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Indian Oil Corporation limited (IOCl), Mahanadi Coalfields limited (MCl) and other CPSUs be reviewed and they be asked to take necessary steps to complete the projects on time.