Latest news with #BJD
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
EXPANSION ON, ISSUES REMAIN
On May 24, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi had announced an ambitious plan to boost Odisha's urbanisation rate from the current 17% to 40% by 2036 and 60% by 2047. The announcement, made during the 10th governing council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi, detailed the govt's urbanisation plan which includes developing a massive 7,000sqkm metropolitan region – comparable to the size of the Hyderabad Metropolitan region – encompassing Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Jatni, Cuttack, Paradip and Puri. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now When it comes to urbanisation, of all the infrastructural facilities that require attention and expansion, an airport is one of most important structures that plays a key role. And in the aftermath of the plane crash in Ahmedabad airport last week, focus on aviation-related infrastructural facilities has become paramount. "The existing airport in Bhubaneswar, despite recent upgrades, is approaching saturation, struggling to accommodate growing passenger traffic and bigger aircraft and large cargo operations. The proposed metropolitan area's economic potential, coupled with increasing tourism and business activities, demands a new and strategically located airport outside Bhubaneswar," former Air India pilot and BJD leader Manmath Routray said. The state budget in Feb had proposed to establish a greenfield airport in Paradip to accelerate growth in industry and to further expand the aviation map across industrial clusters in coastal areas. A greenfield airport in Puri has also been planned. The previous BJD govt had planned the Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri. As per the plan, considering Bhubaneswar's saturation, Puri was planned to become fully an international airport and Bhubaneswar fully domestic. Recently Majhi also discussed expediting work on the proposed airport in Puri and upgrading the existing one in Rourkela. Routray added that a new airport would not only decongest the existing facility but also catalyse economic growth across the planned metropolitan region. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It would enhance connectivity, boost tourism, and support the region's industrial development. "The project aligns with Odisha's vision of becoming an economic powerhouse in eastern India," he said. The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) operates over 100 flights daily on an average and more than 35,000 flights annually. In 2013, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had planned a comprehensive expansion plan requiring 64 acres of additional land. The primary objective was to extend the runway from 9,000ft to 10,500ft, which would have enabled the airport to accommodate bigger aircraft like Boeing 777, 787 and 747, along with special cargo planes. Despite multiple negotiations spanning several years, the state govt's offer in March 2017 fell short of the requirement. It proposed allocating only 47 acres of land, currently under the control of Odisha University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT), against the required 64 acres. This land shortage then prompted AAI to reconsider its expansion strategy. Airport authorities have indicated that the existing runway is sufficient for current commercial operations, leading the AAI to shift its focus towards improving infrastructure and passenger services instead. "To expand the existing runway from 2274 meters to over 3000 meters, we need land in length and not in width. We can get 47 acres from OUAT but require another 17 acres that need to be acquired by displacing a part of Baramunda village," BPIA director Prasanna Pradhan said. But even if a new airport comes up, there will be mushrooming of houses and towers and other structures - which may pose a threat to aircraft - around it. "Expanding an airport or constructing a new one will boost growth and that will also lead to growth in other sectors, like real estate for instance. In case of Delhi's IGI airport as well, there are residential areas along Dwarka and Vasant Kunj end. Even the airport in Bengaluru, which is situated around 40 km from the township, now has houses coming up near it," hotelier Debashis Patnaik said. While the runway expansion plan is facing a dead end for now, BPIA is set to get a third terminal to enhance domestic operations. The proposed terminal (T3), to be constructed over a 30,000 square metre area, may pave the way for segregated handling of arrivals and departures. Currently, BPIA operates with two terminals - T1 for domestic flights and T2 for international operations.
Hans India
20 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Naveen delegates party responsibilities to BJD PAC
Bhubaneswar: In a significant development within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), party president Naveen Patnaik has temporarily stepped back from active political responsibilities due to health reasons. On Wednesday, he delegated his duties to the powerful Political Affairs Committee as he undergoes a scheduled cervical arthritis treatment in Mumbai. According to the office order released from Sankha Bhawan, the day-to-day functioning of the party will be managed by the Political Affairs Committee until his return. Additionally, Debi Prasad Mishra, Senior Vice President (Headquarters), has been entrusted with coordinating various activities and programmes across different wings of the party. 'As I will be undergoing a procedure for cervical arthritis in Mumbai, the day-to-day affairs of Biju Janata Dal will be handled by the Political Affairs Committee during my absence. Also, Debi Prasad Mishra, Senior Vice President, Headquarters, will coordinate activities and programmes between different wings of the party,' directed Patnaik. The directive, signed by Naveen Patnaik, ensures the continued smooth functioning of the party machinery during his period of treatment. Odisha Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik will leave for Mumbai to undergo treatment for cervical arthritis on June 22. Announcing on 'X' handle on Wednesday, the Biju Janata Dal president wrote: 'As advised by medical experts, I would be undergoing a procedure for cervical arthritis on the 22nd of this month at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. My personal doctor, Dr Ramakant Panda, is coordinating this in Mumbai. With blessings of Lord Jagannatha and good wishes of my brothers and sisters of Odisha, looking forward to returning soon to continue to serve all of you.' Notably, the BJD supremo on Wednesday also addressed the party workers during the launch of a statewide Student-Youth Awakening Campaign held at Puri. Launching the campaign through a video message, Naveen Patnaik also criticised the BJP government's 'One Year, Many Achievements' slogan, instead calling the administration's record as 'One Year, Many Failures.' He alleged that the BJP had come to power through 'false promises,' only to rename and rebrand existing welfare schemes without delivering tangible outcomes.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
4 held in Keonjhar for minor's gang rape, murder
1 2 Keonjhar/Bhubaneswar: Four men were arrested on Thursday for the alleged gang rape and murder of a 17-year-old Plus II student in Keonjhar district, two days after her body was found hanging from a tree. "Based on the complaint of the deceased girl's father and prima facie evidence, we arrested all the four accused on charges of gang rape and murder," SP Nitin Kusalkar said. The incident comes days after the gang rape of a college student on Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district drew widespread condemnation with CM Mohan Charan Majhi calling for strict action against the perpetrators. Police have collected DNA samples from the suspects for profiling and comparison with the deceased's samples, Kusalkar said. Police sources said one of the accused, aged 19, was in a relationship with the minor for about a month. "The girl's father found her body hanging from a tree behind their residence on Tuesday morning. In his FIR, he identified the 19-year-old as the primary accused, who allegedly committed the assault with three accomplices aged 19, 27 and 42. All are residents of Keonjhar district," the SP added. Police sources said the father, in his complaint, claimed the accused murdered her and made it look like a suicide by hanging her body. "We are awaiting the post-mortem report that will ascertain the exact cause of death," Kusalkar said. Another police officer said while the primary accused had sexually abused the victim, the other three suspects aided in the offence. "All three accomplices would face gang-rape charges under the new criminal laws, even if they had not sexually assaulted her," the officer said. On Thursday, separate teams of BJD and Congress members visited the girl's village and met her family members.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Violence against women is increasing day by day in Odisha: Priyanka Gandhi condemns gangrape of 20-yr-old woman
New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday condemned the alleged gangrape of a college student in Odisha's Gopalpur, asserting that the failure to prioritise women's safety constitutes a grave atrocity against them. In a strongly worded post on X on Wednesday, Wayanad MP highlighted the escalating violence against women in Odisha, referring to the recent alleged gangrape at the beach in Gopalpur. The MP from Wayanad also took out a dig Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the alleged safety of women in the State. 'The strongest words are enough to condemn the brutality that was meted out to a student by ten men in Gopalpur, Odisha. Violence against women is increasing day by day in Odisha. In a state where the Chief Minister himself admits that about 44,000 women and children have disappeared in the last five years, not giving priority to women's safety is in itself an atrocity against women,' Vadra wrote in her post. The horrific gang-rape of the 20-year-old college student at the Gopalpur beach in Odisha's Ganjam district sparked a row all over the state, with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) calling it a 'complete breakdown' of law and order. BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, expressing shock over the incident, demanded strict action against the perpetrator while advising the BJP-led government to be more 'vigilant' in preventing the 'increasing atrocities against women'. 'The news of the gang-rape at Gopalpur beach, a major tourist destination in Odisha, is deeply shocking and has left everyone shaken. It is strongly condemned. The safety of women in tourist destinations has been questioned. The government should be vigilant in preventing the increasing atrocities against women every day. The government should take strict steps to ensure the safety and security of women in the state,' Patnaik wrote on X. Meanwhile, Congress leaders and workers entered into a scuffle with police earlier today in Odisha's Bhubaneswar as they protested against the recent gang rape case. The protesters, demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister, were marching towards the CM's residence when they were stopped by the police. The police detained several Congress leaders and workers during the protest. Earlier on Tuesday, the police had nabbed all 10 people - six adults and four minors - in connection with the alleged gang rape of the student from Berhampur, who was out with her male friend at Gopalpur beach on Monday, Superintendent of Police, Berhampur, Sravana Vivek M said. According to the police, around 8 pm, 10 local youths, six adults and four minors at the beach overpowered the woman and her male friend. Three of the accused allegedly raped the woman while others kept watch on her male friend. The police immediately launched an investigation after the woman and her male friend registered a police complaint at the police station after 10 pm. According to the Berhampur SP, the police have arrested the six adults and produced the four minors before the Juvenile Justice Board. Police will send pleas to the board to treat the minors as adults, as they all are 17-years-old. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep condemnation of the heinous gang rape incident in Gopalpur, stating that strict and exemplary action will be taken against the perpetrators. Condemning the incident, the Chief Minister termed it as 'highly deplorable and a crime against humanity'. He emphasized that no perpetrator involved in this act will be spared, and the strictest punishment under the law will be ensured, the CM's Office said in a statement. (ANI)
United News of India
6 days ago
- Health
- United News of India
Naveen slams Odisha Government's lax response to Cholera outbreak
Bhubaneswar, June 15 (UNI) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Sunday criticized the BJP-led Odisha government for its lax approach in handling the cholera outbreak in the state. Taking to his official X handle, Patnaik wrote, 'The state government's light-handedness in the face of cholera spreading in Odisha is shocking and disturbing to everyone.' Patnaik stated that cholera is taking a serious turn in several districts, including Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Puri, Cuttack, and Keonjhar, and has now begun spreading to other parts of the state. Expressing grief over the situation, the BJD President said he was saddened by the loss of 14 lives due to the outbreak and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. 'Cholera has endangered people's lives. What had not been witnessed for many years is now disrupting daily life across multiple districts,' he tweeted. Patnaik urged the state government to remain alert and take strong, immediate measures to curb the spread of the disease and protect public health. UNI DP BM
