Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for the early construction of the proposed international airport at Puri.
Speaking at the flagging off of the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express, he urged Modi for two more such trains between Puri and Rourkela, and Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad.
“I met the prime minister recently and had a detailed discussion on the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport at Puri. We will incorporate all the suggestions given by him for making it a world-class seaside airport,” Patnaik said, addressing the programme through video conference in the presence of Modi.
Saying that the state government is developing Puri as an international heritage centre, Naveen said that Puri is the first city in India to have a 100 per cent drink-from-tap facility.
Regarding the proposed airport at Puri, the Chief Minister said, “Recently, I met the Prime Minister and had a detailed discussion on the proposed Shree Jagannath Puri International Airport at Puri. We will incorporate all the suggestions given by the Prime Minister for making it a world-class seaside airport. He hoped that with the cooperation and support of the Prime Minister, this airport will be ready within three to four years, and the Prime Minister will come to Shreekhetra to dedicate the Shree Jagannath Puri International Airport.” he said.
The CM further requested Modi to sanction the Puri-Konark new railway line which will connect two iconic marvels of the state.
Odisha offers 50 percent of the construction cost and the entire land cost for the project, making it extremely profitable for the Railways, he informed.
He further said that Odisha has always been very proactive in supporting railway projects in the state. People of the state have also willingly pledged their invaluable land for railway development, hoping that railway projects will offer them many new economic avenues.
The Chief Minister also urged for the early introduction of passenger services in both the Angul-Sukinda line and the Haridaspur-Paradip line to meet the aspirations of the people of these districts.
Hoping that the Bullet train dream will soon be realised, he said that the introduction of the Vande Bharat train is one step closer to our aspiration of Bullet trains in India. He added, “I am sure, with your leadership, we should soon have our own Bullet trains.”