Reflecting a strong sense of ‘betrayal’, former union minister and BJP MLA, as well as party national executive committee member Dilip Ray, said two major projects promised by PM Narendra Modi to the people of Rourkela are yet to take off.

“There is a strong perception amongst the people that someone powerful is trying to sabotage the projects”, stated the political heavyweight Ray in a letter to PM on Thursday.

“I have met you 6 to 7 times and also the Minister of Road Transport, Highway’s & Shipping Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Steel, the Chairman, SAIL, Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan on several occasions and am seriously, eagerly awaiting for a constructive and pragmatic outcome” he said in his letter.

“We are in the last one year of our current term and VIKAS ( Sabka Saathi Sabka Vikas to Ek Saath Sabka Vikas) has really taken a beating in this part of the country and the hope and aspirations of the people of this predominant tribal area have been badly battered,” said the disillusioned Ray.

He reminded PM Modi about his promise to the people of Rourkela on 5 April 2014 and renewing his pledge on 1 April 2015 for two sentimental projects – Super Speciality Hospital cum Medical College at Rourkela and construction of a Bridge on Brahmani River, Veda Vyasa, Rourkela announced on 1 April 2015 that the centre will convert the 700 bedded Ispat General Hospital, managed by SAIL to a Medical College – cum- Super Specialty Hospital for improvement of healthcare facilities to this backward region.

A few branches at IGH for up gradation to Super Speciality (Cardiac, Cancer and 55 Clinic) were decided to be taken up but did not materialize because of stringent tender conditions.

With every passing day the frustration and anger of the people is rising questioning our credibility, said Ray. The River Over Bridge (ROB) at Brahmani with 4 Laning of 126 km’s is yet to start though the Mr Gadkari had laid the foundation stone on 21 July 2017.

Mr Gadkari had announced the commencement of work in 15 days time , but even after eight months not a brick has been put in place, he remarked.

Significantly, Ray made it a point to note that Odisha government had on its part issued necessary forest clearances and paved way for the bridge work.

Ray pleaded with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene for early implementation of the projects to save lives of misery ridden sick people and for the economic upliftment of the region.

Ray’s letter assumes great significance as he and another BJP heavyweight Bijay Mahapatra have been marginalised by a coterie in the BJP which is scared of their political acumen and ability to outshine those who are trying to project themselves as ‘face of BJP in Odisha’. Since last two years, Ray and Mahapatra are sidelined by the machinations of a couple of BJP leaders.