PM may visit Odisha’s Steel City Rourkela on Apr 1

Reported by Malay Ray
Rourkela, Mar 22:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is most likely to visit Odisha’s Steel City of Rourkela on April 1.

Though the visit is yet to be officially announced, Union Tribal Affairs minister Jual Oram said here today that the Prime Minister will come.

“The Prime minister is all set to visit Rourkela to inaugurate the modernization and expansion units of Rourkala Steel Plant. However, the detailed programme is yet to be released from Prime Minister’s Office,” Oram said.

It may be mentioned that  most of the projects under the modernisation programme of the RSP that had begun on January 4, 2008 at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore have now been completed and operationalised.

The Prime Minister, during his visit to the Steel City, is also expected to lay the foundation stone for the expansion of the existing airstrip in the city.

“Recently, I had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had  discussed with him a couple of projects at Rourkela. Besides, special assistance to the state for Navakalebara, I had discussed the issues of the proposed Rourkela airport, a second bridge on Brahmani and a medical college in Ispat General Hospital,” said senior BJP leader and Rourkela MLA Dillip Ray.

“I feel that all three projects are under active consideration. If they get technical nod, the Prime Minister may announce his clearance for these projects during his visit here,”  Ray said.

Though there has been no confirmation by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Modi’s visit as yet, RSP authorities and state BJP leaders have alreday begun their preparations for the visit.

The Pprime Minister is also scheduled to address a public meeting and attend some other functions, BJP sources said.