Bhubaneswar: The 69th Republic Day of India was celebrated in the state with gaiety. While Governor SC Jamir unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute at Mahatma Gandhi Marg during the state-level parade in the Capital city, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hoisted the national flag at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Patnaik said the state has developed on all fronts and its growth rate is better than the national average. The state has bettered the national average in terms of poverty reduction and human development index, the Chief Minister said.
The personnel of state police, members of Bharat Scouts and Guides and students of city-based schools took part in the colourful rhythmic parade.
Besides, school children donning colourful costumes presented spectacular cultural performances. The daredevil act by the students of Maharishi College of Natural Law here was a treat to spectators present there.
The Twin City Commissionerate police had made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth and incident-free of the event at Mahatma Gandhi Marg.
The Republic Day celebrations were also held at all the district headquarters in Orissa amidst tight security, especially in Maoist-affected districts like Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Kalahandi where the ultras had asked the people through posters to observe the Republic Day as ‘black day’.
ECoR celebration
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) celebrated the Republic Day at Railway Stadium, Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar, where Umesh Singh, General Manager, ECoR, unfurled the national flag and took the ceremonial salute from a large contingent of Railway Protection Force (RPF), Bharat Scouts and Guides and schoolchildren. They also presented a colourful cultural programme later.
Singh conveyed his best wishes to railway employees and their family members, including rail users and congratulated the railwaymen of ECoR for making creditable achievements against all odds. He also urged railway employees to continue to provide full and committed support to explore new frontiers of excellence through collective endeavours in the days ahead.
Singh said that emphasis is being given to speed up the pace of execution of the prioritized railway infrastructural works of this region, passenger amenities, safety and security. This year ECoR faced twin tragedies due to the fury of nature. Two bridges were damaged due to floods and torrential rains. “Due to the effort and day and night hard work by our railwaymen, we have restored damaged bridge near Araku in just 58 days as a result we have received national acclaim for this feat. We are also working towards restoration of another bridge near Theruvali which was badly affected by flood and we are trying to build totally afresh and hope to put it up by April of this year,” added Singh.
Among the infrastructural works, Singh disclosed a new line between Bolgarh Road and Nayagarh Town of Khurda Road-Balangir; doubling of Dilmili-Silakjhori, Bodearpur-Dilimili, Gidam-Dantewada, Boinda-Jarpada, Chudanga Garh –Bhubaneswar New, Hirakud-Godbhaga, Chilikdhara-Harichandanpur-Nilakantheswar-Sitabinj, Naranpur-Keonjhar-Porjanpur, Titlagarh-Muribahal-Tureikela-Kantabanji. Third line work between Bhubaneswar-New Mancheswar has been commissioned in the current financial year. Apart from this, electrification work between Boinda- Bamur, Tokopal-Bodearpur, Bodearpur-Dilimili and Boinda to Bamur have also been commissioned during this financial year.
PNN