Jharkhand

• 13 Jul 2022

Prime Minister Gifted Various Development Projects to Jharkhand

Why in News?

• On July 12, 2022 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over Rs 16,800 crore from Deoghar in Jharkhand.

Key Points

• The Prime Minister inaugurated the Deoghar Airport built at a cost of Rs.401 crore to provide direct air connectivity to Baba Baidyanath Dham. Spread over 657 acres, Deoghar Airport will be second international airport of jharkhand after Ranchi. The terminal building of the airport has a capacity of about five lac passengers annually.
• The Prime Minister inaugurated the Deoghar-Kolkata-Deoghar flight by presenting flying flags to IndiGo Company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rono Dutta and Chief of Flight Operations Ashu Mishra.
• The Prime Minister dedicated services related to AIIMS, Deoghar Patient (In-Patient) Department (IPD) and Operation Theater to the nation. This is in line with the vision of the Prime Minister to develop excellent health facilities in all parts of the country. The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Deoghar on March 25, 2018.
• The projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister include development of two big shrine buildings with a capacity of 2,000 pilgrims, development of Jalsar Lake front, Sivaganga Talab development etc. The new facilities will improve the experience of lacs of devotees visiting Baba Vaidyanath Dham every year.
• The Prime Minister dedicated and laid the foundation stone of several road projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore. These projects will further encourage connectivity in the region, as well as make movement easier for the general public.
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various energy infrastructure projects worth about Rs 3,000 crore in the region. This includes the Bokaro-Angul section of GAIL's Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline; HPCL's new LPG Bottling Plant at Barhi, Hazaribagh and BPCL's Bokaro LPG Bottling Plant were inaugurated. Apart from this, the foundation stone of Parbatpur Gas Collecting Station, Coal Bed Methane (CBM) asset of ONGC was laid in Jharia block.
• The Prime Minister dedicated two railway projects- Godda-Hansdiha electrification section and Garhwa-Mahuria doubling projects. These projects will help industries and power stations to ensure smooth movement of goods. This will also make the movement of trains between Dumka and Asansol easier.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of three rail projects - Redevelopment of Ranchi Railway Station, Jasidih Bypass Line and LHB Coach Maintenance Depot, Godda. These include world class passenger amenities including food court, executive lounge, cafederia, air conditioned waiting hall etc. in the redevelopment of Ranchi station. This will ensure ease of movement as well as comfort for the passengers.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that under the UDAN scheme, about 70 new locations have been added through airports, heliports and water aerodromes in the last 5-6 years. Today, common citizens are getting the facility of air travel on more than 400 new routes.
• Before 2014, there were 74 airports in India, but in seven years till April 2022, 66 new airports have been established taking a total of 140 airports (including heliport and water aerodrome).
• Under the UDAN scheme, more than 420 air routes have been operated till June 2022. More than 1.79 lac flights have been flown under this scheme. The UDAN scheme has immensely benefited many regions across India including hill states, North-Eastern region and islands.