Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday announced that Berhampur city will be expanded and developed into Greater Berhampur City, directing the district administration to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the purpose. He said the expansion would be undertaken on planned lines to ensure balanced urban growth, improved civic amenities and better quality of life for residents.
Addressing the 42nd annual function of Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir at Nilakantha Nagar in Berhampur, the Chief Minister said Ganjam district and Berhampur city are the lifeline of southern Odisha and their development is crucial for the overall progress of the state. As part of efforts to strengthen urban infrastructure and connectivity, he announced the construction of 10 important roads in Berhampur city and adjoining areas at an estimated cost of ₹52.17 crore. These projects, he said, would significantly improve the city’s Ease of Living and traffic management.
To ensure planned urban development, the Chief Minister said Town Planning (TP) Schemes would be implemented in Berhampur to provide basic services in a systematic manner. Two TP Schemes have already been prepared, which will help develop advanced urban infrastructure in city suburbs while also benefiting landowners. Keeping in view Berhampur’s reputation as a food hub, he also announced the development of Food Streets at multiple locations within the Berhampur Municipal Corporation area. He added that several more projects would be taken up in the coming days, asserting that Berhampur city and Ganjam district would play a pivotal role in building a prosperous Odisha.
The Chief Minister further announced the construction of a six-lane road connecting Berhampur to Jeypore at an estimated cost of ₹6,000 crore, stating that the process for the project is already underway.
During his address, the Chief Minister became emotional while recalling his days as a teacher, saying that visiting a Saraswati Vidya Mandir always felt like returning home. He praised Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir for its strong educational environment and commitment to quality education, noting that the institution not only produces talented students but also inculcates Indian culture and values, thereby shaping responsible citizens.
Highlighting reforms in the education sector, he said Odisha has implemented the National Education Policy 2020 under the guidance of the Prime Minister. The state is set to introduce a State Curriculum Framework aligned with the National Curriculum Framework to promote creativity and self-reliance among students. To strengthen primary education, the Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Prathamik Vidyalaya Yojana has been launched, under which one school will be established in each panchayat; 2,200 schools have already been approved in the first phase.
The Chief Minister also announced that the Secondary Education Board and the Higher Secondary Education Board would be merged into a single board on the CBSE and ICSE pattern to enhance educational quality. Stressing the importance of teachers and infrastructure, he said steps are being taken to create 45,000 teacher posts over the next three years to address staff shortages. From the next academic year, free textbooks will be provided to students up to Class X.
He said the state government has allocated a record amount of over ₹31,000 crore for primary education in the current budget, reiterating that financial constraints would not be allowed to hinder the goal of providing quality education and securing a bright future for children.
Earlier, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, freedom fighter Mohan Nayak and social worker Shivaram Mahapatra. Meritorious students were also felicitated on the occasion.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Mines and Steel Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Berhampur MLA K. Anil Kumar, Aska MLA Saroj Padhi, Digapahandi MLA Siddhant Mahapatra, Chikiti MLA Manoranjan Dyan Samantara, Kabisuryanagar MLA Pratap Nayak, Khallikote MLA Purna Chandra Sethi, RSS Eastern and Western Prant Prachar Pramukh Srishtidhar Biswal, Ganjam District Collector Kirtti Vasan V., and several other dignitaries were present.
