BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wrote a four-page letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on the occasion of Utkal Divas, highlighting record infrastructure allocations and appreciating Odisha’s development across key sectors while assuring continued support.
In the letter sent from his camp office in Dibrugarh, Assam, the Prime Minister described Odisha as a land of “glorious history” and termed Odia culture a “civilisational treasure” that continues to inspire people across India and the world.
He recalled his association with Odisha since his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and the shared cultural legacy between the two states.
“My close interaction with Odisha has continued after I took oath as Prime Minister. I consider it my privilege and the blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath that over the last decade, I have got the chance to work towards the progress of Odisha and the prosperity of its people. A glimpse of this can be seen in the fact that this year has seen the highest allocation of funds in railways and roads to Odisha,” the PM’s letter said.
He highlighted that the railway allocation for Odisha has increased to Rs 10,600 crore in 2025–26 as against an average of Rs 838 crore per year during 2009–14.
This, he said, is giving fresh momentum to connectivity and logistics. The support will boost connectivity and aid tourism, which has great potential in Odisha, Modi added.
The Prime Minister said the NDA government is also supporting Odisha’s emergence as a major maritime and industrial state through port-led development, including the ecosystem around Paradip, upcoming LNG terminals at Paradip and Gopalpur, and the wider potential of projects such as Bahuda Port and the Mahanadi riverine shipbuilding and port initiative.
He complimented Majhi for the state’s industrialisation push. “Odisha’s industrial progress is equally heartening. The laying of foundation stones and inauguration of over a hundred major projects, with record investment and employment potential for lakhs of people, reflect clear momentum in implementation, demonstrating that investment in Odisha is being translated into productive assets, employment and opportunity,” he said.
In his response, Majhi said the Prime Minister’s words celebrating Odisha’s glorious history and rich civilisational heritage have deeply resonated with the people of the state.
Highlighting the cultural connections between Odisha and Gujarat, the Chief Minister appreciated the Prime Minister’s reference to shared traditions of the Sun Temples and the sacred Rath Yatra.
He also acknowledged Modi’s participation in the Pahandi ritual during the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra, describing it as a symbol of the deep cultural unity that binds the nation.
Majhi lauded the Centre’s continued support for Odisha’s development under Modi’s leadership and said the record allocation of Rs 10,600 crore for the railway sector in 2025–26, along with the emphasis on port-led development, will act as key drivers in positioning Odisha as a major maritime and industrial hub.
The Chief Minister also welcomed the Prime Minister’s recognition of the state government’s flagship initiatives aimed at women empowerment, including the Subhadra Yojana and efforts to create ‘Lakhpati Didis’. Such encouragement will strengthen Odisha’s commitment to advancing the cause of Nari Shakti, he added.
As Odisha approaches its centenary year, Majhi reaffirmed the state’s resolve to contribute to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ through the goal of ‘Viksit Odisha’. He said the preservation of Odia identity, language and culture will remain central to his government’s priorities.