Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who had been on a whirlwind tour to Ganjam, was on an inauguration spree in the district on Saturday.

The chief minister inaugurated 13 projects and laid foundation stones for three major projects worth Rs 150 crore. He visited Seragada, Hinjili and Chatrapur.

Ganjam is the home turf of Naveen. He represents the Hinjili constituency in the Assembly. His visit to the district assumes significance ahead of the general elections slated early next year.

With focus on the promotion of technical education and female literacy. the chief minister inaugurated the new industrial training institute (ITI) set-up with a budget of Rs 8 crore, a girls’ hostel of the model school and a skill development centre. He also dedicated a bridge over the Nandini nullah, a new building of the Panchayat Bhavan, street lighting along the main road and a high-level bridge over the Rushikulya river at Seragada.

Naveen also inaugurated a building of the Regulated Market Committee at Hinjilicut and laid the foundation stone of a grid sub-station and a high-level bridge over the Ghodahada river.

At Chatrapur, the district headquarters town, the chief minister inaugurated the building of Zilla Parishad Bhavan, District Panchayat Resources Centre and that of the Regional Transport Office. He also dedicated a swimming pool in the town.

Security arrangements were beefed up in view of the chief minister’s visit. Dog and bomb squads were pressed into service to avoid any untoward incidents. Steps were also taken to avoid any kind of ruckus by members of the Opposition parties. Twenty-six platoons of police were deployed.

Temporary helipads were constructed at various places where the chief minister’s chopper landed.

Robbery foiled

Kendrapara police foiled a major dacoity bid by arresting seven persons and seizing several articles, including iron rods and a pistol, during a raid here on Friday night. The accused were identified as Zakir Khan, 31, Rakesh Behera, 20, Sk Sahir, 20, Bimal Prasad Das, 24, Yusuf Khan, 22, Md Hamid, 35, and Ranjan Kumar Sethi,38. The police raided the hideout around 1.30am near a place on Thakurpatna-

Anlabanka road while the youths were planning a dacoity in the area.