India among top 5 in 4G; ₹60,000-cr projects in Odisha

On September 27, 2025,

PM Narendra Modi launched major infrastructure and technology initiatives worth over ₹60,000 crore in Jharsuguda, Odisha, asserting that India now ranks among the top five nations globally in indigenous 4G technology.

Introduction

On September 27, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a slew of development projects in Jharsuguda, Odisha, valued at more than ₹60,000 crore.
He praised India’s homegrown technology, especially in telecom, saying the nation now ranks among the top five globally in 4G deployment.

The event drew top state and national leaders, and the projects span areas like transportation, healthcare, education, rural housing, and digital connectivity.

Modi’s Bold Claim: India Among Top 5 in Indigenous 4G

At the Odisha launch, PM Modi declared that India stands in the world’s top five nations for indigenous technology in 4G services.
He credited Indian companies and BSNL for making this possible, especially through localized telecom infrastructure built across the country.

He asserted this push will help India become a global telecom manufacturing hub and bring advanced connectivity to remote and border regions.

₹60,000 Crore Projects in Odisha: What They Cover

Telecom & Digital Inclusion

• Modi commissioned 97,500+ 4G mobile towers, all built with “swadeshi” technology.
• Out of these, 92,600+ towers were developed by BSNL.
• Around 26,700 remote villages will now get network coverage via 18,900 new sites funded under the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme.

This massive expansion aims to bridge the digital divide and bring high-speed internet to previously unconnected areas.

Railway & Transport Upgrades

• He flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express between Berhampur and Udhna (Surat), a key addition to improve trade and passenger movement.
• New rail projects include the Sambalpur–Sarla flyover, and doubling of lines on Koraput–Baiguda and Manabar–Koraput–Gorapur.

These measures boost connectivity across Odisha and neighboring states.

Healthcare & Education Enhancements

• Foundations were laid to upgrade MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) and VIMSAR (Sambalpur) into super-speciality hospitals.
• In higher education, Modi announced 10,000 new IIT seats over the next four years.

These investments aim to strengthen medical infrastructure and provide more top-tier technical education.

Housing & Welfare

• Modi handed over sanction orders for 50,000 houses under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana for vulnerable rural families.
• He also lauded Odisha’s Subhadra Yojana, which provides ₹10,000 per year to over one crore women beneficiaries.

This multi-sectoral push blends infrastructure with social welfare.

Political and Symbolic Footprint

• This marks Modi’s sixth visit to Odisha in 15 months, but his first to Jharsuguda in seven years.
• Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati attended in person.
• Several other CMs (like Yogi Adityanath, Himanta Biswa Sarma) joined virtually.

By choosing Odisha and Jharsuguda, the PM underscored attention to eastern India and projects beyond the capital.

Long-Term Impact & Takeaways

These announcements reflect a vision to:

1. Elevate India’s global standing in technology and telecom.
2. Catalyze balanced development across sectors even in distant regions.
3. Blend connectivity with welfare, ensuring that the underserved benefit from growth.

For Odisha, it is a transformative moment: better roads, stronger hospitals, more colleges, and a digital boost. For India, it signals a drive towards self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and technological leadership.