Odisha’s second steel city Kalinganagar has completed 25 years. The then Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had a Kalinganagar industrialisation dream in the 1990s and planned to set up a steel hub in Jajpur district. He had laid the foundation stone of industrialization in Kalinganagar area under Sukinda and Danagadi blocks in 1992.
His dream for industrialization came true and now over ten small, large and medium industries are operating in Kalinganagar area. The first ever “Kalinganagar Mahotsav” has been organized with a purpose to pay tribute to visionary leader Bijubabu. The Kalinganagar Mahotsav 2017 started at Maa Mahapat ground at Telibahali in Kalinga Nagar Industrial area on December 22 and continued till December 26.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera kick started the event with a mini-marathon in the presence of local MLA Pritiranjan Ghadei and others in morning. Over hundreds of youths took part in mini-marathon. In evening, Health and Law Minister Pratap Jena inaugurated the first ever Kalinganagar Mahotsav in presence of former Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, Jajpur MLA Pranab Prakash Das, Bari MLA Debasis Nayak and others. Speaking on this occasion, Ghadei said, " Now, Kalinganagar has created a special identity not only in India but also abroad. Initially, Bijubabu struggled and then he successfully implemented his dream. I had dreamt about Kalinganagar Mahotsav five years ago, but certain unfavorable circumstances delayed the implementation part, now I thank the local MLA, the administration, the local people, the displaced families and industries for successful inauguration of grand fest”. He added that the Mahotsav is the real tribute to late Bijubabu.
Local MLA Pritiranjan Ghadai told that the aim of the Mahotsav is to create a conducive environment at Kalinganagar which will minimize the gap between industries and local people.
It will provide a platform to youngsters to showcase their talents. Various cultural programmes are being celebrated to entertain the people in Mahotsav”.