Finance
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi welcomed President Droupadi Murmu to Rourkela on Monday, calling it as a “historic day of great pride and joy,” and launched a number of development initiatives aimed at modernizing the steel metropolis.
Addressing the audience, the Chief Minister stated that the projects will further enhance Rourkela’s position as “the heart of the modern industrial revolution” and “Mini India of Odisha.” “On behalf of the people of Odisha, I welcome His Excellency the President to this city of Rourkela and express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart,” Majhi said. He stated that Rourkela is more than just an industrially rich city; it is also “a city full of dreams, order, diversity, and splendor” and has played an important part in nation building.
The President inaugurated several important projects, including the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), which cost roughly Rs 48 crore. “This system will play an important part in making Rourkela safer, smarter, and more citizen-friendly. It will help to provide possibilities for all by organizing Odisha’s optimism and originality,” the Chief Minister stated.
Majhi emphasized Odisha’s tribal legacy, saying the Tribal Museum, Rourkela-One, which was also inaugurated by the President, serves as a symbol of the state’s “glorious tribal art, literature, culture, tradition, and heritage.” He went on to say that the museum symbolizes the government’s commitment to give “topmost priority to tribal tradition and tribal culture.” The President also opened the Koel Riverfront Recreation Park, named for liberation warrior and Amko-Simko leader Nirmal Munda.
“It is clear from this that our government is committed to honoring the brave sons and daughters of Odisha,” Majhi stated, adding that the park will boost tourism and connect people with nature. A Science Park and Planetarium was also launched to “develop scientific attitude among students” and serve as a center of education and curiosity.
The CM further announced that expansion work of Rourkela Airport and Rourkela Steel Plant will be completed soon. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for self-reliance “from chip to ship,” Majhi lauded students of Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur and NIT Rourkela for developing three semiconductor chips that were presented at Semicon India-2025 in New Delhi.
“Continue your research and take the name of the state even higher. The double engine government will provide you all kinds of facilities,” he said. Outlining Odisha’s growth trajectory, the CM said the state has received investment proposals worth Rs 20 lakh crore through the ‘Utkarsh Odisha’ initiative. He recalled that during ‘Enterprise Odisha-2026’ held in Rourkela this January, 20 MoUs and investment proposals worth Rs 52,026 crore were signed, creating 20,427 jobs. Projects worth Rs 8,800 crore were also launched then.
“Rourkela is going to become the industrial hub of the country,” Majhi asserted. He added that a major industrial corridor linking Paradip, Choudwar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Rourkela is being developed, while the upcoming NAMO Expressway, ATAL Expressway and Coastal Highway will form the “lifeline of Odisha.”
“Odisha will become the Growth Engine of developed India,” the Chief Minister stated, emphasizing that true development rests in the empowerment of tribals, Dalits, women, farmers, and youth through programmes such as Samruddh Kisan Yojana and Subhadra Yojana. He stated that the four projects unveiled by the President will greatly contribute to Rourkela’s development as well as Odisha’s overall growth story.
