Prime Minister Narendra Modi e-inaugurated the local airport in Jharsuguda on Saturday. PM Narendra Modi dedicated the Jharsuguda Airport to the nation in presence of Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, governor Ganeshi Lal and union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram and Suresh Prabhu.

The Prime Minister also addressed a public rally in Talcher on Saturday and said that the Talcher plant will start production in 36 months with an investment of Rs 13,000 crore. PM Narendra Modi Lays Foundation Stone for Rs 13,000 Crore Talcher Fertiliser Project.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that "I had requested PM Modi to name the Jharsuguda Airport after freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai whose contribution is immeasurable; my govt has sanctioned 120 acre land for the airport free of cost & also Rs 75 crore from the State fund(sic)."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the revival of the Talcher fertiliser plant in Odisha will create huge job opportunities while making the country self-sufficient in fertiliser production.

Launching the revival work for the country's first coal gasification-based fertiliser plant, Modi said: "Around 4,500 people will be employed in the region."

It would also reduce India's dependency on importing gas and urea, he added.

"Odisha had lost hope of the fertiliser plant but we did it despite several hurdles. We vowed that with new energy and new speed, we will take the country to a new height," Modi said in Talcher as he addressed the public.

The plant is being developed by Talcher Fertilisers Limited (TFL), a joint venture of GAIL (India) Limited, Coal India Limited (CIL), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCFL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL).

The project would have an output of 1.27 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) of 'Neem' coated prilled urea using coal and petcoke as feedstock.

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

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, also present on the occasion, thanked the Prime Minister and assured him of all support from the state government. (With Agency Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2018 01:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).