CM Majhi Lays Foundation for ₹312-Crore Maa Tarini Peetha Redevelopment in Keonjhar

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the ambitious redevelopment of Maa Tarini Peetha at Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district. The project, estimated at over ₹312 crore, aims to transform the religious centre with modern amenities while preserving its cultural and spiritual identity. The work is targeted for completion within one year.

Addressing the gathering, CM Majhi said he felt blessed to serve Maa Tarini and that months of planning had now taken shape. He assured that the government would develop the shrine into a world-class religious and tourist destination, adding that funds would not be a constraint for the sacred project.

The Chief Minister said the sanctioned amount of more than ₹312 crore for the temple beautification and surrounding development would be utilised within a year. Additional funds will also be allocated for building houses for temple caretakers, and the Works Department has been instructed to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

The redevelopment will cover nearly 60 acres and include a 216-bed special pilgrims’ accommodation, a pilgrim centre, lecture hall, food plaza, watchtower, market complex, coconut store, and a large prasad hall capable of serving 500 people. The site will also feature new toilet blocks, a costume room, shoe stand, ticket counter, hand–foot washing areas, a driver’s rest room, improved internal roads, expanded parking areas, and beautification of four sacred ponds.

Majhi noted that the previous government had approved ₹50 crore for Maa Tarini’s seat but said the current administration is committed to a far larger transformation. Calling Keonjhar the heart of Odisha and rich in natural resources, he announced that the process to establish a mega steel plant in the district is underway and its foundation stone will be laid soon.

Highlighting Keonjhar’s growing importance as an economic centre, the Chief Minister said the district will follow Rourkela and Jajpur in emerging as a steel city. The government has planned six-lane roads connecting industrial and mining areas and a six-lane ring road in Barbil. Keonjhar, Barbil, and Joda will be developed into a major economic zone.

Majhi also outlined the Centre’s work on an eight-lane road from Paradip to Barbil. Construction is in progress between Paradip and Chandikhol, while survey work for the Chandikhol–Barbil stretch is underway.

Several major development projects were announced for Keonjhar district: a four-lane ring road in Barbil costing ₹2,300 crore, a ₹428-crore bypass road in Keonjhar, a four-lane road to the district headquarters hospital, a ₹168-crore tech park, a ₹150-crore data centre, a ₹150-crore textile park in Balabhadrapur, a ₹187-crore data recovery centre at Dharanidhar University, ₹103 crore for Raisuan airstrip, ₹180 crore for Keonjhar stadium, and ₹50 crore for RPRC at Sanaghagara.

Majhi stated that combining DMF, OMBADC, and other funds gives Keonjhar an allocation of nearly ₹35,000 crore. He emphasised that this entire amount would be used for the district’s development, adding that a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047 were the government’s broader goals.

Upon his arrival in Ghatagaon, the Chief Minister was welcomed with a large procession from RC Primary School to Maa Tarini temple. He offered prayers at the shrine before officially launching the integrated development project.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including BJP State President Manmohan Samal, Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, MPs, MLAs, and Keonjhar District Collector Vishal Singh.