Ganjam Unveils Ambitious ‘Odisha Vision’ Roadmap with 25 Mega Development Initiatives
Desk, Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar: A high-level meeting of department secretaries, chaired by Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg, was held at Kharavela Bhawan on Friday. During the meeting, Ganjam Collector Keerthi Vasan V. presented a comprehensive blueprint featuring 25 major developmental initiatives proposed for the district.
The roadmap received appreciation from the Chief Secretary and senior officials of various departments for its comprehensive and future-oriented vision aimed at transforming Ganjam into a major economic, tourism, and infrastructure hub of Odisha.
Among the key proposals were the development of Gopalpur into a world-class tourism destination, expansion of the proposed “Bahuda” deep-sea port, and holistic urban development of the Greater Berhampur Municipal Corporation area. The Collector also highlighted several major infrastructure projects, including the Pipalapanka irrigation project, modernization of the Aryapalli Fishing Harbour, six-laning and expansion of National Highway 16, and the Kansariganda intra-river reservoir project on the Rushikulya River.
The presentation further emphasized the need to provide mega piped drinking water facilities to all remaining blocks of the district and expedite the completion of the long-pending Berhampur bypass road project.
In the healthcare and industrial sectors, the Collector proposed upgrading Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Medical College and Hospital into an “AIIMS Plus” category institution with super-speciality healthcare facilities. Other major proposals included the establishment of a textile park in Ganjam, promotion of perfume-based industries using locally cultivated kewda flowers, and development of a sports complex in Berhampur on the lines of Kalinga Stadium.
The roadmap also proposed setting up a World Skill Centre, development of the Maa Tara Tarini Temple riverfront project, strengthening model schools, anganwadi centres, and Shishu Vatika facilities, creation of tourism clusters, and promotion of dry fish-based ancillary industries.
Special emphasis was laid on improving road infrastructure and road safety across the district, strengthening healthcare services, developing ideal PACS and LAMPS institutions, and generating large-scale employment and livelihood opportunities to reduce distress migration from the district.
The Collector also presented a detailed implementation roadmap with defined timelines for completion of the proposed projects.
During the discussion, Chief Secretary Anu Garg stressed the need for urban redevelopment measures to ease congestion in Berhampur city and suggested the creation of MSME clusters to boost industrial growth and employment generation in the region
