Make in Odisha conclave attracts investment of more than Rs 22000 crore on first day

The Make in Odisha conclave, the state's biggest showpiece event, has managed to attract over Rs.22,000 crore in new investments on the first day itself. The list includes leading business groups like the Adanis, Tatas, Hindalco and ITC - they have announced fresh investment plans in the state.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 1 December 2016.

Adani group chairman has indicated that their overall investment plans in the state stand at over Rs.12,000 crore and additional plans are in hand to raise this investment even higher to Rs.15,000 crore. That is expected to generate over 10,000 jobs within the state.
Another key investor is Tata Steel - it proposes to invest Rs.15,000 crore in scaling up steelmaking capacity at Kalinganagar plant to eight mtpa from three mtpa currently.
Managing director of Hindalco Industries went on to announce a fresh investment of Rs.4,000 crore in the state. Similarly - ITC also announced to invest Rs.800 crore in the state. It plans to invest Rs.800 crore in two projects in the state - one of these is for the 110 rooms of a five-star hotel under the 'Welcome' brand. Second is for a food processing plant to be set up on Bhubaneswar's periphery.
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages also announced an investment of Rs.500 crore in the state for the next three years. The Dalmia group also announced an investment of Rs.2,000 crore in the state in its cement projects.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik thanked the industry leaders for showing their commitment towards the state and expressed hope that the 'Make in Odisha' conclave will go a long way in carrying forward the brand Odisha as a land of new opportunities.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Odisha gives a once-in-a-lifetime offer of free pilgrimage to senior citizens

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens in the state. He has flagged off the first pilgrimage train to Rameswaram and Madurai from the Berhampur railway station in Ganjam district. The train is carrying more than 1000 people from 10 southern Odisha districts and they are on a nine-day tour to the religious sites in south India.
The state government would bear the complete tour expenditure of devotees inclusive of travel, accommodation, and medical expenses and it would be arranged through trains and buses.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 26 July 2016.

This scheme is based on an announcement of the state government to make available a one-time financial assistance to senior citizens to undertake pilgrimage. It was a promise of the ruling Biju Janata Dal that had also promised it in its 2014 elections manifesto. This promise has now been fulfilled.
Thee are plans to send 2,000 more senior citizens on pilgrimage in next two phases from Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar railway stations. The scheme is applicable to senior citizens aged above 60 and they can travel to various pilgrim destinations including Haridwar-Rishikesh, Allahabad-Varanasi, and Rameswaram-Madurai.
Eligibility is for all those except those who pay income tax payee and those who are retired government employees. All others, irrespective of their religion, can avail the facility after attaining 60 years and can go on tours to holy places under the once-in-a-lifetime scheme. It will be a joint venture between the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) - an MOU has been signed for smooth management of the tour plans.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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