Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Anu Garg, during her two-day visit to Rourkela, conducted on-site inspections and reviews of multiple public welfare and developmental projects.
Accompanied by Principal Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Department Smt. Usha Padhee, Sundargarh District Collector Dr. Subhankar Mohapatra, and Rourkela Additional District Magistrate-cum-Municipal Commissioner Sushri Deena Dastagir, among others, Garg emphasised accelerating progress and enhancing public benefits.
The visit highlighted the **EV bus depot** under the **PM-eBus Sewa Scheme**, where Garg reviewed operational performance, service quality, and strategies to bolster urban public transport. The initiative aims to promote greener mobility in the steel city.
Garg inspected the **bio-mining site** at Chhend and directed swift completion of processing followed by site reclamation. At the **Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium**, she inquired about management and suggested establishing a dedicated hockey gallery featuring World Cup memorabilia and a statue of mascot Olly to attract more visitors.
She expressed satisfaction with facilities at the **Sulabh Basagruha affordable housing project** in Chhend, noting provisions like primary healthcare, anganwadi centers, community halls, lighting, and beautification. Learning of over 1,500 additional homes soon to begin, she highlighted their role in providing secure living for economically weaker sections.
Plans for restoring **TISCO Pond** into a major picnic spot were reviewed, with instructions to form a special committee ensuring preservation of natural beauty and tourist safety through informational signages.
At the **Mission Shakti Cafe** in Uditnagar, Garg dined and interacted with women from self-help groups managing it, appreciating the ambiance and operations.
The under-construction **Big Recreational Park** in Koel Nagar received praise, with Garg opining it would carve a unique spot on Rourkela’s tourism map.
Interacting with athletes at **Birsa Munda Athletic Stadium**, she encouraged them to aim for excellence with proper training.
Other sites included the **bio-mass pellet plant** at Balughat, where she discussed production and sales; the historic **Vedvyas Temple**, praising ongoing beautification; the upcoming **Tribal Museum** at Rourkela One, where she admired exhibits like tribal huts, art galleries, and terracotta displays; and the **Integrated Command and Control Centre**, expected to strengthen traffic management and crime control.
In a review meeting at the Rourkela Municipal Corporation, Garg chaired discussions on projects by Rourkela Smart City Limited, stressing the timely completion of pending works, the maintenance of completed ones, and revenue generation.
Smt. Usha Padhee praised the city’s developmental strides and announced the imminent expansion of Rourkela Airport into a major facility, with discussions underway with Indigo for new connections.
