Sambalpur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday inaugurated the second bridge across the Mahanadi here.
The bridge at Nelson Mandela Square was built at a cost of Rs 117.72 crore.
“The second bridge built across the Mahanadi has been dedicated to the people. Another high level bridge will be built across Malti Jor at a cost of Rs 20 crore,” Patnaik said.
Speaking at a Yuba Samavesh organised by the Biju Yuva Vahini (BYV) at the VSS Stadium here, he urged the youths to work for the state and to dedicate themselves to the service of people.
“Youths are messengers for a developed society. If they want they can bring about a change in the social and financial domains. They have education, intelligence and skills. The Biju Yuba Vahini has adopted service as its religion. They are the real heroes,” the CM said
Apart from the second Mahanadi bridge, the CM also laid foundation stones for several projects and inaugurated projects worth Rs 700 crore. He also announced five important projects costing Rs 88 crore for Sambalpur city.
Among the 14 projects the CM inaugurated were the second bridge across the Mahanadi, a ropeway on Hirakud and the River Point View Point.
Significantly, the 1.5 km long high level second Mahanadi bridge will directly connect the district headquarters-cum-western range revenue divisional city with Chaunpur, Goshala and Chipilma. It will also lend livelihood support to the people as well as enhance their socio-economic status.
Patnaik announced that another bridge will be built over Balibandha at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. The road from Durgapali to the NH would be made four-lane at a cost of Rs 15 crore to improve Sambalpur’s transport facilities.
The road from Zilla School to Naksapali will be four-laned at a cost Rs 40 crore, and Rs 3 crore will be pumped in for developing the VSS Stadium.
The police had taken 76 BJP and Congress workers into preventive custody to ensure security. They were freed later.
PNN