Honouring the legacy of Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his upcoming 151st birth anniversary, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi flagged off a special train from the Bhubaneswar New Railway Station.
The train carries nearly 1,000 delegates representing 19 Naxal-free districts of Odisha to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, where they will attend the prestigious National Unity Day Parade at the Statue of Unity on October 31. The delegation stands as a testament to the state’s transformation into a secure, peaceful, and rapidly developing region.
Honouring Sardar Patel & Reflecting a Naxal-Free India
Paying rich tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Chief Minister Majhi highlighted the visionary leader’s pivotal role in integrating over 550 princely states to forge a united India.
“Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary has been celebrated as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’. This year’s national parade will vividly showcase the picture of a fully Naxal-free India,” Chief Minister Majhi stated while addressing reporters.
The Chief Minister credited the combined efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resolute leadership, and the relentless courage of security forces for completely eradicating Naxalism and placing Odisha firmly on the track of accelerated development.
Focused Development in Former Extremist Belts
CM Majhi emphasised that socio-economic development and infrastructure creation remain the top priorities in former Naxal-affected belts. Under the Gramoday Plus scheme operating in 10 focus districts, welfare programs are being integrated and delivered directly to target beneficiaries, successfully bringing local communities into the mainstream. This multi-pronged strategy reflects the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
New Railway Milestone: Puri–Badampahar Express Approved
In a major infrastructure update, Chief Minister Majhi announced that the Central Government has approved a new express train route connecting Puri to Badampahar in Mayurbhanj district.
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Presidential Launch: President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to flag off the new train service in the first week of November.
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Key Districts Connected: The route will pass through and connect six vital districts — Puri, Khordha, Kataka, Jajpur, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj — significantly boosting regional connectivity and trade.
