Bhubaneswar, 25 December (H.S.) : Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, on Thursday said that the tenure of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee marked a transformative phase in India’s development journey, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, connectivity and good governance.
The Governor was speaking at a programme organised at Abhishek Hall on the premises of Lok Bhavan to commemorate the birth anniversary of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which is observed across the country as Good Governance Day (Sushasan Divas).
Senior officers, including Commissioner-cum-Secretary Roopa Roshan Sahoo, along with officers and staff of Lok Bhavan, were present on the occasion.
Paying floral tributes to the portrait of the former Prime Minister, Dr. Kambhampati said that Shri Vajpayee’s name is inseparably linked with landmark initiatives such as the Golden Quadrilateral Project, the large-scale expansion of national highways, and the construction of four-lane roads across the country. These initiatives, he said, not only enhanced connectivity but also accelerated economic growth in several regions.
“Even today, people living in areas connected by these highways associate their economic growth and improved mobility with the far-sighted vision of Vajpayee Ji,” the Governor remarked.
Highlighting Shri Vajpayee’s commitment to rural development, Dr. Kambhampati said the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) ensured all-weather road connectivity to villages, playing a vital role in transforming the rural economy and integrating remote communities into the mainstream of development.
The Governor also recalled Shri Vajpayee’s emphasis on long-term developmental planning, including the river interlinking project, for which a dedicated task force was constituted. He noted that he himself had the opportunity to be a member of that task force.
Dr. Kambhampati described Shri Vajpayee as a visionary statesman, a master orator, and a leader who commanded respect across party lines. He said that the former Prime Minister left behind an enduring legacy of inclusive development and good governance that continues to inspire the nation.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
