Bhubaneswar: Terming it a “historic day of great pride and joy,” Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday welcomed President Droupadi Murmu to Rourkela, as she launched multiple development projects aimed at transforming the steel city.
Addressing the gathering, the CM said the projects will further strengthen Rourkela’s role 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 noted that Rourkela is not just an industrially prosperous city but also “a city full of dreams, order, diversity and splendor” that has played a major role in nation building.
Among the key projects inaugurated by the President was the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), built at a cost of nearly Rs 48 crore. “This system will play a major role in making Rourkela safe, smart and more citizen-friendly. It will help in creating opportunities for all by organizing the Optimism and Originality of Odisha,” the CM said.
Highlighting Odisha’s tribal heritage, Majhi said the Tribal Museum, Rourkela-One, also inaugurated by the President, stands as a symbol of the state’s “glorious tribal art, literature, culture, tradition and heritage.” He added that the museum reflects the government’s commitment to giving “top most priority to tribal tradition and tribal culture.” The President also inaugurated the Koel Riverfront Recreation Park, named after freedom fighter 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 CM said, stressing that real development lies in empowerment of tribals, Dalits, women, farmers and youth through schemes like Samruddh Kisan Yojana and Subhadra Yojana. The four projects launched by the President, he added, will significantly contribute to Rourkela’s development and Odisha’s larger growth story
