New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched and laid foundation stone of several development projects, worth over 1,500 crore rupees, at Balangir in Odisha today. Mr Modi dedicated to the nation electrification of Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram and Sambalpur-Angul lines spanning 813 kilometres completed at a cost of around 1,000 crores. He also inaugurated the doubling of Barpali-Dungaripali and Balangir-Deogaon railway lines. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the 15 km-long Balangir-Bichhupali railway line laid at a cost of 115 crores. It is part of the new 289 kilometre Balangir-Khurda road line which connects Howrah-Chennai main line on Khurda Road and Titlagarh-Sambalpur line at Balangir. A new train on Balangir-Bichhupali route which would benefit commuters of the region was also flagged off, besides connecting Bichhupali to Jharsuguda and Vizianagaram main line through Balangir.

Mr Modi also dedicated to the nation Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Jharsuguda. The Park promotes movement of goods for domestic as well as global trade. It will establish Jharsuguda as a prime logistics hub and boost ease of doing business in the state.

A bridge between Theruvali and Singapur Road station was inaugurated on the occasion. The bridge re-establishes the linkage over Nagavali river, which was destroyed during floods in July 2017.

Mr Modi also inaugurated Passport Sewa Kendras at Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Phulbani, Bargarh and Balangir. Foundation stone was also laid for a permanent building of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sonepur.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated renovation and restoration works at Nilamadhav and Siddheswar Temple at Gandhaharadi in Boudh, Paschim Somnath group of temples, also in Boudh, and Ranipur Jharial group of monuments in Balangir.

Later, addressing a public meeting, Mr Modi said, the projects that kickstarted today, will not only spur the growth of Odisha but also of eastern India. He said, in a month, more than 20,000 crore rupees of development projects have been either inaugurated or initiated in Odisha. Mr Modi said, the Opposition is not aware of the country’s natural resources. They criticised Sardar Patel’s statue. But, after becoming world’s tallest, the statue generated jobs for the people residing around the statue. He said, unlike the previos governments, the BJP government is working towards renovation of many historic building of Odisha.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will visit Kollam in Kerala and inaugurate a 13-kilometre bypass connecting a stretch from Mevaram to Kavanad. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will attend the function. Mr Modi will also address a public meeting at Asharamam ground in Kollam.

Mr Modi will offer prayers at the famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. He will also commission several developmental projects undertaken in the temple complex under Swadeshi Darshan scheme.

The Prime Minister said, his government has taken five steps for the overall development of the country. These, he said, are education for children, employment for youth, medicine for old people, irrigation for farmers and public hearing for common people. Mr Modi said, another aspect has been added to this and that is 10 percent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections of general category in education and jobs. He said, the pro-poor decision of the government have enraged people who used to loot public money. They, he said, have now been deprived of the opportunities to plunder public money.

Asserting that there was a time when sculptures were stolen from temples, Mr Modi said, the government is making efforts to bring them back from other countries.

The 13 km bypass in National Highway 66 connecting a stretch from Mevram to Kavanad will ease traffic flow from  Thiruvananthapuram to the rest of the state through Kollam. Constructed at a cost of Rupees 352 crores, this stretch includes three bridges over Ashtamudi lake , five culverts, one vehicle underpass, and five major intersections. After inaugurating the bypass, the  Prime Minister will address a public gathering at Cantonment ground in Kollam. In Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Narendra Modi will visit Padmanabha Swamy Temple and unveil a plaque to mark the launch of various  facilities under the Swadeshi Darshan programme. Tight security arrangements and traffic restrictions are in place in view of the Prime Minister’s visit.