PM to visit Odisha, Chhattisgarh on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on Saturday to inaugurate and launch several major infrastructure and industrial projects, including the Jharsuguda airport and the revival of the Talcher Fertilizer Plant.

During his visit, Modi will travel to Talcher, where he will unveil a plaque marking the commencement of work to revive the Talcher Fertilizer Plant. The project is significant as it will feature India's first fertilizer unit based on coal gasification technology.

The plant is expected to produce fertilizer as well as natural gas, with the coal gasification process aimed at converting coal into useful gaseous products that can be used as feedstock for industrial production.

From Talcher, the Prime Minister will travel to Jharsuguda to inaugurate the city's airport. The new airport is expected to bring western Odisha onto India's aviation map and improve air connectivity in the region.

The airport is also expected to support regional connectivity under the government's UDAN scheme, potentially making air travel more accessible for people in western Odisha while facilitating business, tourism and industrial activity.

Modi will also inaugurate the Garjanbahal coal mines and the Jharsuguda-Barapali-Sardega railway link during his Odisha visit.

He will further unveil a plaque marking the beginning of coal production and transportation from the Dulanga coal mines. The associated rail infrastructure is expected to strengthen the movement of coal from mining areas and improve connectivity for the region's industrial sector.

The projects are part of a broader push to strengthen Odisha's transport, energy and industrial infrastructure. The state's coal reserves and industrial base make improved railway and aviation connectivity particularly important for supporting economic activity and investment.

The Prime Minister will also visit an exhibition showcasing traditional handloom products and agriculture, highlighting Odisha's rural economy, handicrafts and traditional industries.

After completing his Odisha engagements, Modi will travel to Janjgir-Champa in Chhattisgarh, where he will lay the foundation stones for several national highway projects and the Pendra-Anuppur third railway line.

The visit is expected to place a strong focus on connectivity, industrial development, energy infrastructure and employment-generating projects in Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh.