PM Modi To Flag Off Vande Bharat Train, Launch Railway Projects Worth Over Rs 8,000 Cr In Odisha Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday flag off Vande Bharat train and dedicate, lay foundation stone of several projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore in Odisha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday lay the foundation stone and dedicate several railway projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crores in Odisha at around 12:30 PM via video conferencing. During the event, the Prime Minister will also flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah, according to an official release from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat train will pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore districts in Odisha and Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal, the release mentioned.

The release said that the train will provide faster, comfortable and convenient travel experience to the rail users, boost tourism and promote economic development in the region. 

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations. The redeveloped stations will have all modern amenities providing world-class experience to the rail passengers. PM Modi will also dedicate 100 per cent electrification of the rail network in Odisha which will reduce the operating and maintenance cost and reliance on imported crude oil. 

PMO said that Prime Minister Modi will also dedicate the doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line; a new broad gauge rail line between Angul-Sukinda; the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and new broad-gauge line between Bichhupali-Jhartarbha. These will cater to the increased traffic demands as a result of rapid industrial development in steel, power and mining sectors in Odisha and will also help ease the pressure on passenger traffic in these rail sections. 

BJP Plans Massive Outreach To Mark Modi Govt's Ninth Anniversary

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party will be carrying out a massive month-long outreach programme to mark the ninth anniversary of its government at the Centre. As per a report by news agency PTI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally and 51 public meetings will be held by senior members of the party. The campaign is likely to start on May 30, the day Modi took the oath of office of Prime Minister for a second term, and will continue till June 30, as per the report citing its sources. 

Modi is likely to address a rally on either May 30 or 31 to kickstart the exercise.

During the outreach exercise, the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will interact with the media on May 29 to highlight various achievements of the Modi government in its nine years, while the Union ministers will speak to the media in states where the party is not in power. 

The party is also expected to connect with 250 "eminent" families in every Lok Sabha seat besides meetings with different segments of the society including intellectuals, social media influencers and traders.