New Delhi, July 3 — In a significant move to promote science education and innovation in eastern India, Odisha’s Minister for Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare and Science & Technology, Sri Krushna Chandra Patra, met Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in the capital today. The primary agenda: central support for a new state-of-the-art Science City in Bhubaneswar.
The Odisha Government has already earmarked 100 acres of land for the proposed facility. The envisioned Science City will include immersive learning spaces, cutting-edge exhibits, and advanced research infrastructure, all aimed at sparking scientific curiosity—especially among the youth.
“We believe central support will be instrumental in realizing this vision,” said Patra, as he formally submitted the proposal during the meeting. The project is aligned with the national goal of nurturing scientific temper and strengthening India’s role as a global innovation hub.
Responding positively, Dr. Jitendra Singh assured the delegation that the Centre would consider the proposal seriously. He also suggested enhancing existing infrastructure such as CSIR labs and space research centers in Odisha, which could complement the new Science City and drive broader scientific advancement in the region.
In addition to the Science City, Patra put forward several other proposals, including:
- Establishment of an Astronomy Observatory
- A Bay of Bengal Coastal Observatory under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
- An Intellectual Property and Patent Facilitation Centre
- Projects under the Department of Biotechnology
He also requested support for initiatives under the National Council for Science Museums and Ministry of Culture.
Dr. Singh encouraged Odisha to tap into the Central Government’s Bio-E3 policy by establishing a Bio E-Cell. Highlighting the state’s strengths in coastal and mineral sectors, he suggested leveraging these assets through national missions such as the Deep Ocean Mission for greater public benefit.
This high-level interaction is part of a broader push toward cooperative federalism, aligning state-level scientific ambitions with national policy frameworks to accelerate India’s progress in science and technology.
Source: Press Information Bureau
