THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 6, 2026

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday unveiled a massive development package worth ₹1,292 crore for his home district of Keonjhar, inaugurating and laying foundation stones for 330 projects aimed at transforming the region's education, healthcare, employment and infrastructure sectors.

During his visit to his home turf, Majhi inaugurated 198 projects worth around ₹411 crore and laid the foundation stones for another 132 projects estimated at over ₹880 crore, describing the initiatives as a significant step towards accelerating development in northern Odisha.

Striking an emotional chord with the gathering, the Chief Minister said that although he held the top constitutional position in the state, he remained the same 'Mohan Bhai' for the people of Keonjhar.

"I may be the Chief Minister of Odisha, but for the people of Keonjhar, I am still your old 'Mohan Bhai'. I pledge to serve my motherland until my last breath," he said.

The highlight of the visit was the launch of the third phase of the state's flagship Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Prathamik Vidyalaya Yojana, under which foundation stones were laid for 630 model primary schools across Odisha at an estimated investment of ₹4,000 crore. Of these, 35 schools will come up in Keonjhar district.

Describing the initiative as his brainchild, Majhi said strong primary education was essential for shaping the future of children and building a progressive society. The government aims to establish 2,200 model primary schools across the state by 2029 with an investment of ₹12,000 crore.

Each school will be developed on a five-acre campus with an investment of ₹5 crore to ₹8 crore and equipped with modern classrooms, digital learning facilities and sports infrastructure. The initiative is expected to particularly benefit children in tribal and rural areas by providing access to quality education.

In another significant step towards strengthening higher education, Majhi inaugurated the South Campus of Dharanidhar University, built at a cost of ₹14 crore, and distributed National Common Mobility Cards to students to facilitate free bus travel.

Seeking to create employment opportunities closer to home, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a 15-storey Tech-Business Park at an investment of ₹237 crore. The proposed facility will come up on 5.51 acres and is expected to emerge as a major technology and commercial hub in northern Odisha.

"The youth of Keonjhar will no longer need to migrate to Bengaluru or Hyderabad in search of employment. Boundless opportunities for jobs and progress will now be available on their own soil," Majhi said.

Healthcare infrastructure also received a major boost with the inauguration of Odisha's first fully indigenous, technology-driven Preventive Cancer Screening Centre at Dharanidhar Medical College. Established at a cost of ₹6 crore through the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), the centre will provide all its services free of cost.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for a seven-storey Dental College, estimated to cost ₹58.4 crore, and a 10-storey Nursing College involving an investment of ₹63 crore. He announced that a Government Pharmacy College would also be established in Keonjhar in the near future.

Other healthcare projects inaugurated during the visit included a Mother and Child Health Department built at ₹10 crore and a Modular Operation Theatre complex costing ₹32 crore.

To improve emergency healthcare and urban sanitation services, Majhi handed over 23 new ambulances and 26 sanitation vehicles, including tractors, sprinklers and light commercial vehicles, to local municipalities.

The government also announced major road infrastructure initiatives, including six-lane road connectivity in Keonjhar and the construction of a new ring road for Barbil, aimed at improving connectivity and supporting economic activities in the mineral-rich region.

During the programme, the Chief Minister also interacted virtually with school students from Kataka and Dhamnagar, underscoring the government's focus on education and engagement with young learners.

Several state ministers, MLAs and senior district officials attended the programme.