A delegation led by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Niranjan Patnaik went to Delhi and handed over a cheque of Rs 20, 20, 504 to an official at the PMO.

“The money has been collected after Muktikanta Biswal took a padayatra from Odisha to Delhi demanding to complete work of IGH to superspeciality hospital,” Patnaik said.

Odisha Congress had started an online crowd-funding campaign to help Muktikant and several others realise their dream by upgrading the IGH after All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi urged for the same.

Notably, Muktikant had recently walked 1350 miles to reach Delhi for the cause.

PM Narendra Modi, during his first visit to Odisha on April 1, 2015, had announced that the Centre would upgrade Ispat General Hospital (IGH) into a super specialty hospital and medical college.

Last week, Dilip Ray, MLA from Rourkela Assembly constituency, had quit BJP citing the lack of seriousness of the Centre to fulfill its own promise for the residents of the Steel City.