Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Odisha capital Bhubaneswar early Saturday and laid the foundation stone for Talcher Fertiliser Plant in Angul district. This is the country’s first coal gasification-based fertiliser plant.

He is also scheduled to inaugurate Jharsuguda airport in the state besides some other projects.

The fertiliser plant is being developed by Talcher Fertilisers Limited, a joint-venture of GAIL, Coal India Ltd, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd and Fertiliser Corporation of India Ltd, said officials.

The plant, to be commissioned by 2022, will ensure easy availability of urea in Odisha as there is no urea plant in the state.

After laying the foundation stone, PM Modi addressed a public rally and said the huge crowd present at the rally portrayed the sentiments of the people of Odisha.

“When BJP government came to power in the Centre, the work on fertiliser plants picked up speed. I ensure you that the construction of Talcher Fertiliser Plant will be completed in 36 months and I’ll again come here to inaugurate it,” said PM Modi.

During his one-day visit to the state, Modi will also dedicate to the nation mines of the NTPC and the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd and railway tracks for transportation of coal.

Honoured to welcome Prime Minister Sri @narendramodi to Odisha.along with Hon. Governor Odisha Sh. Ganeshi Lal, Sh. @dpradhanbjp and other senior leaders of @BJP4Odisha. pic.twitter.com/JLNIcepG3I

— Jual Oram (@jualoram) September 22, 2018

Garjanbahal open cast mine of MCL, to be inaugurated by Modi, has coal block reserves of 230 million tonnes with annual production capacity of 13 million tonnes. It will generate direct employment opportunity for 894 people and indirect job opportunities for 5,000, officials said.

The PM will launch the 53.1-km Jharsuguda-Serdega railway line constructed by MCL, which can be used for passenger traffic.

Modi will dedicate to the nation Dulanga Coal Mining Project of NTPC in Sundargarh district. This is the second mine of the the state-run company to be operational and its first in Odisha.

Coal produced from this mine will be used in the under-construction 1600-MW Darlipali Super Thermal Power Plant of NTPC in Sundargarh district, the officials said.

On the new airport in Jharsuguda, the officials said it has been developed for all-weather operations, including night operations for A-320 type aircraft.

Jharsuguda will be the second airport of Odisha to be operational and provide connectivity to Bhubaneswar, Raipur and Ranchi under the central government’s UDAN scheme.

(With agency inputs)