Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday unveiled and laid foundation stones for a slate of projects worth Rs 1,362 crore at the Rangamahal stage during Dhanu Yatra in Bargarh. The announcements, made on the historic festival stage, covered both completed schemes and new initiatives intended to strengthen infrastructure and accelerate development across the district.
Bargarh development projects set to transform district
Officials said foundation stones were laid for 85 projects with a combined investment of Rs 980.58 crore, while 38 completed schemes valued at Rs 382.26 crore were inaugurated. The package includes works spanning cultural infrastructure, water management, urban services and transport facilities.
Among the headline projects is the construction of a permanent Rangamahal stage, for which the Chief Minister approved Rs 12.80 crore. The new permanent facility is expected to provide a modern, safer venue for the annual Dhanu Yatra and other cultural events, reducing recurring costs and improving the visitor experience.
Water resources also featured prominently in the programme. A major anicut across the Jira river and an in-stream reservoir at an estimated cost of Rs 114.87 crore were announced to improve irrigation and water storage. Officials said these measures will help stabilise local agriculture, particularly during dry months, and support groundwater recharge.
In addition to river works, Majhi announced four fresh projects totalling Rs 380 crore for the district. These include construction of a sewage treatment plant on the Jira river to tackle pollution, the development of a vending zone at Hatpada to formalise street trade, and an Atal Bus Stand at Bargarh Sadar to improve urban transport infrastructure. An in-stream reservoir at Grindola was also approved to bolster local water security.
Local administrators highlighted the mix of completed and new projects as part of a broader push to upgrade civic amenities. The inaugurated projects, they said, already include improvements to roads, minor urban works and community facilities. The newly sanctioned schemes will follow standard tendering and implementation procedures with timelines set by the state agencies responsible for each sector.
Residents who attended the Dhanu Yatra welcomed the announcements, citing expectations of better water management, cleaner urban spaces and more reliable transport. Local farmers and traders are likely to benefit from the irrigation and market infrastructure, while cultural stakeholders said a permanent Rangamahal stage will help sustain the festival’s long-term growth.
State officials stressed that the projects aim to create jobs during construction and to deliver lasting benefits in public health, sanitation and economic activity. With ceremonial foundations now laid, agencies will move into detailed design and procurement phases in the coming weeks, after which on-site work will commence according to approved schedules.
The package at Dhanu Yatra represents one of the largest concentrated investments in recent years for Bargarh and signals a continued focus on balanced regional development across Odisha.
Key Takeaways:
- Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi launched and laid foundation stones for 123 projects worth Rs 1,362 crore to boost local infrastructure.
- Works include a permanent Rangamahal stage, an anicut and in-stream reservoirs on the Jira river, and a sewage treatment plant.
- Officials laid foundations for 85 projects (Rs 980.58 crore) and inaugurated 38 completed projects (Rs 382.26 crore).
- These Bargarh development projects aim to improve water management, urban services and civic amenities for residents.
