Shouting slogans and holding black flags, as many as 26 Congress activists here were held after they staged demonstration against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today.
The chief minister encountered opposition as Congress workers protested on the Grand Road and other places in the pilgrim town holding black flags and shouting slogans like "Go back Naveen Patnaik" and "Naveen Patnaik, Down Down."
However, the protesters were taken away by the police before they could move close to the chief minister. Altogether 26 persons were taken into custody and later released on personal bond, said City deputy Superintendent of Police, Prabhat Routray.
Ridiculing the inauguration spree undertaken by the chief minister, the demonstrators said it was of no meaning as many Nabakalebar works including roads, over bridges, medical and drinking water facilities were still incomplete.
Ten persons were also detained by the police in Malatipatpur area where Patnaik inaugurated a new ultra-modern bus terminus, the DSP said.
Among the new projects launched by the CM was a modern bus terminal at Malatipatpur near the seaside town which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 73 crore.
Besides passenger waiting rooms, the bus terminal has dormitory, cafeteria, ticket reservation counter, CCTVs and a police outpost.
The chief minister also inaugurated a seven-km bypass road connecting Malatiparpur and Puri-Konark road, a new over bridge and a bridge at Atharanala. He also opened a special building for mothers and infants at the district headquarter hospital here.
A new fire station building, a new administrative building of ITI at Talabania, an integrated control room to keep watch on movement of people in the town and a new CCTV control room were also inaugurated.
Three power grid stations were inaugurated at Baliapanda by Patnaik who also laid the foundation stones of a new Sevayat Welfare Housing Project and a government medical college and hospital at Baliguali.
