Naveen Patnaik on foundation laying spree in Silk City Berhampur

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid foundation stones for a series of developmental projects during his first visit to the Silk city Berhampur on October 03 after the win of the ruling party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

The Chief Minister reached the city by helicopter and rushed from one foundation site to other during his long whirlwind tour. To add importance to his visit, State Ministers Surya Narayaan Patra, Debi Prasanna Mishra, Usha Devi, Berhampur MP Siddhant Mohapatra, Rajya Sabha MP Renbubala Pradhan, Berhampur MLA R.C.C. Patnaik, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy, newly-elected BJD Mayor K.Madhavi accompanied him during the foundation stone laying ceremonies.

The Chief Minister laid foundation stone for a heavy vehicle driving training institute to be established on Private Public Participation (PPP) mode at a cost of Rs.11 crore at Palur hills on the outskirts of the city. At Haldiapadar he laid foundation stone for a city bus depot and a modern bus terminal to be established at a cost of Rs. 11 crore.

He also laid the foundation stone for the much awaited comprehensive solid waste management project for the city, which is first of its kind in the State. This project would be taken up on PPP mode and would involve expenditure of around Rs. 70 crore.

The Chief Minister also laid foundation stone for the proposed Janhibili drinking water project which will be constructed with around Rs. 427 crore. Apart from Berhampur this project would also provide drinking water to other urban centers of Ganjam district like Aska and Hinjli as well as over 30 villages. As per the authorities this project has been taken up keeping in view the projected population of Berhampur in 2040.

He also laid foundation stone for widening and relaying of Lochapada-Nandika road. He inaugurated the memorial and statue for Sahid Laxman Nayak near Sahid Laxman Nayak community hall. It may be noted that this martyr had been hanged till death during British era in Berhampur circle jail.

Mr. Patnaik also laid foundation stones for three over bridge projects at goods shed road, Ankuli and Gopalpur road areas of the city to ease city traffic. These three over bridges would be built up at a cost of more than Rs. 150 crore. He also laid foundation stone for the new building for Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) to be built at a cost of Rs. 4 crore and the new building for the Berhampur ITI to be built with an expenditure of Rs. 7.27 crore. He also laid foundation stone for L.V.Prasad Eye Institute in Berhampur which will come up in 15 months.

At a function organised on the ITI campus, the Chief Minister distributed laptops to around 300 students of Ganjam district. Addressing the crowd, Mr Patnaik said overall economic growth along with development of every sector and community in the State was the aim of his government. He thanked the people of Berhampur for providing the BJD a majority in the newly elected BMC. It may be noted that during his campaign for the BMC polls, the Chief Minister had declared that if people of Berhampur elect BJD candidates in the BMC polls, then he would take charge of development of the city. Source: The Hindu