CM Majhi highlighted the need for approx Rs 10,000 crore to develop world-class tourism infrastructure & create an investment-friendly ecosystem in Odisha
OdishaPlus Bureau
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has vigorously appealed for central assistance to achieve the Viksit Odisha objective established by the party. However, the state was not mentioned in the Finance Minister’s budget address, despite announced targeted initiatives for Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, and the northeastern states.
During the pre-budget consultation meeting led by Sitharaman in Jaisalmer on December 20, Majhi requested financial backing for tourism infrastructure, the acceleration of projects such as the Sagarmala initiative, the East Coast Economic Corridor, National Waterway-5, and the enhancement of container handling capacity at Paradip Port.
About the Union Finance Minister’s acknowledgment of the state’s tourism potential in her budget speech for 2024-25, the Chief Minister highlighted the need for approximately Rs 10,000 crore to develop world-class tourism infrastructure and create an investment-friendly ecosystem in Odisha, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming the state into a growth engine for the nation.
Additionally, he sought central support for urbanization initiatives, the development of industrial townships, and the inclusion of the backward blocks of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar—areas inhabited by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)—in the aspirational blocks program. Nevertheless, these requests appeared to be overlooked, leading to criticism that the state remains neglected in terms of dedicated central funding.
Former state Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo has criticized the central government for favoring states that are approaching elections. He pointed out that while Bihar and Assam received special funding, Gujarat was granted incentives. In contrast, Odisha, which provided a substantial mandate to the BJP in 2024, has been overlooked. He emphasized that the residents of the state continue to suffer from political bias and expressed the urgent need for a dedicated disaster management package.
A BJP official acknowledged that the state had anticipated greater support, particularly after the Prime Minister highlighted Odisha as a key contributor to the vision of Viksit Bharat. He affirmed that while the new initiatives would undoubtedly benefit Odisha, targeted allocations would have further bolstered the state’s economy.
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