Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the new campus of IIT-Bhubaneswar and launched a slew of projects in the state worth Rs 14,523 crore during his day-long visit to Odisha. He also released a stamp and a coin to commemorate the Paika rebellion of 1817.
Inaugurating the projects via video conferencing from the state capital, the prime minister said these would accelerate the state's development and help it become "an engine for transformation of the country into a new India".
"Our focus is on progress of east India in general and Odisha in particular," Modi said during a day-long visit to Odisha, which is his second in three months.
He dedicated to the country the new campus of IIT Bhubaneswar built at a cost of Rs 1,660 crore and also laid foundation stone of the campus of Indian Institute of Science and Education Research (IISER) at Berhampur, which will cost around Rs 1,600 crore.
He also unveiled and laid foundation stone for a host of projects related to higher education, health, road and highways and culture.
Stating that the Centre has launched a large number of infrastructure projects in the eastern region and in this state, Modi said these initiatives will act as a catalyst to make the region a gateway for south Asia.
Asserting that the Centre's resolve was to ensure rapid development of eastern India including Odisha, the prime minister said "Our motto is 'sabka saath sabka vikas' to ensure balanced development of all regions and prosperity of all sections of the society."