Bhubaneswar: At Pahadpur, President Droupadi Murmu’s village in the tribal heartland of Mayurbhanj district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a Rs 47,600 crore development push, positioning Odisha at the heart of Centre’s ‘Purvodaya’ drive.
Sharing the dais with President Murmu on the occasion of BJP’s two years in power in Odisha, Modi highlighted the Rs 20 lakh crore in investment proposals that Odisha has received and credited the “double-engine” governance for the state’s rapid rise.
Accompanying Murmu on her birthday to her marital village, PM Modi offered prayers at Jahira — the sacred grove of the Santal tribe — planted a sapling, and interacted with villagers and students at a school set up by the President in memory of her late husband and two sons.
Addressing a public meeting at Rairangpur later, Modi struck an emotive note, saying the children do not see Murmu as the President but “as a mother”, and that their confidence reflected growing aspirations among tribal communities.
“In a way, today was a day of my education,” he said, calling the visit a learning experience and praising Murmu for inspiring young minds from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Modi said the visit assumed added significance as it coincided with the President’s birthday, allowing him to personally extend greetings from her native place. He described his interaction with local children as a reminder of the transformative power of education and leadership.
Announcing a key initiative for the region, the PM said Pahadpur would be developed into a model ‘Surya Gram’, ensuring solar power in every household. He said surplus power generation would also become a new source of income for residents, linking renewable energy to livelihood creation. Drawing a parallel with Konark’s Sun Temple, Modi said Pahadpur would emerge as a modern symbol of solar empowerment.
Highlighting the development push, Modi said Odisha has witnessed rapid progress in the past two years under BJP’s “double-engine” framework, with a focus on welfare delivery, job creation and infrastructure expansion. He said the Centre’s ‘Purvodaya’ vision aims to transform eastern India into a growth hub, with Odisha playing a pivotal role.
PM Modi pointed to large-scale investments in infrastructure, including railways, highways, ports and industrial corridors, alongside emerging sectors such as green energy and semiconductors. He said projects unveiled during the visit would improve connectivity, strengthen public services and accelerate economic activity across the state.
Reiterating Odisha’s importance in India’s long-term growth story, Modi linked the state’s development journey with upcoming milestones — 100 years of Odisha’s formation in 2036 and India’s independence centenary in 2047 — stressing that a stronger Odisha would contribute to a stronger India.
Thanking the PM for visiting her village, Murmu said she wanted the PM, who has taken several initiatives for tribals, to see firsthand how the tribals are worshippers of “Panch Tatva,” the five basic elements of earth, water, fire, air and space.
Both Murmu and Modi praised chief minister Majhi’s leadership, saying Odisha has seen “historic” progress in the past two years under his stewardship, with faster implementation of welfare schemes and a renewed push to investment and industry.
Among the key projects, the PM laid the foundation stone of the Rs 25,000 crore BCGCL coal gasification project, India’s first commercial-scale coal-to-ammonium nitrate facility, and advanced power infrastructure projects worth Rs 17,717 crore. He also inaugurated Rs 1,300 crore road, bridge and transport infra projects.
