The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, approved setting up of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Brahmapur.
A total of Rs 152 crore would be spent for the purpose. A total of 60 students can take admission this year in the Brahmapur IISER.
The strength of the seats would be increased to 665 in coming three years. A permanent campus would also be formed in Brahmapur soon.
Meanwhile, the Forum for Ganjam, a body of intellectuals and members from NGOs and political parties, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for the approval.
“The forum conveys heartiest gratitude to you for approval of the IISER, which will be a premier institution for science. We request you to soon appoint a fulltime Director, who can execute the selection of best possible faculty team and speedy execution of the infrastructure works,” stated forum Chairman Prof Promod Kumar Sahu in a letter.
The Union Cabinet also approved exchanging of the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) land measuring 1.6 acre with an equivalent area of 1.6 acre offered by the State Government near the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
The State Government has offered 1.6 acre of land in lieu of 1.6 acre of the AAI and agreed to undertake and relocate all the existing of the AAI on the subject land at its own cost.
The Government wants to widen the road Ekamara Marg and the Palashpalli road for streamlining the security arrangements of VIP movements and creating a buffer zone for public use near the airport.
For this purpose, it requires 1.6 acre land of the AAI.