Odisha CM launches Rs 1,500 cr-projects in Cuttack; 5.5 lakh BSKY health cards distributed

Cuttack: On the sidelines of distribution of smart health cards under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) in Cuttack district, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated and laid foundation stone for over a hundred projects worth Rs 1,500 crore.

Addressing the public, Patnaik said efforts are afoot to develop SCB Medical College and Hospital here into an ‘AIIMS Plus’ institute. The premier hospital will soon proved to be a milestone in the country’s healthcare services.

He also announced that Biswanath Pandit Central Library, which was demolished at Khannagar here during an eviction drive for construction of a bus terminal, would be shifted and undergo modernization. Worth mentioning, the library has temporarily been shifted to Odisha Administrative Tribunal (OAT) near Judicial Academy.

On BSKY smart health card, the CM said the initiative would greatly benefit the poor and needy in the state. Total 3.5 crore people of 96 families across the state would receive benefits of the health card. In Cuttack district, the scheme would cover total 5, 50,699 people.

Among others, Ministers Panendra Pratap Swain, Pratap Jena and Naba Kisore Das, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner Ananya Das, BJD Organisational Secretary Pranab Praksh Dash and party District President Debashish Samantaray were present at the event.

Earlier in the day, elaborate security arrangements were made in view of the CM’s programme. Total 15 platoons of police force led by DCP Prateek Singh were deployed.

Prior to his visit, BJP Yuva Morcha staged demonstration in Buxi Bazar area here protesting his visit to the city. Holing black flags and banners that read “CM Go Back”, the party workers staged the protest over Mamita Meher murder case. To avoid unpleasant situation, police detained around 20 agitators, including BJP Cuttack Nagar President Lalatendu Badu and Minority Morcha President Sikandar Ali.