I believe that for Orissa to develop several urban centers and clusters need to be developed. So far many are developing. The ones marked with red are either developed or are in the path of development. The one in purple (Keonjhar) has a good chance of development. The three green ones in the big green zone, denoting Bhwanipatna, Balangir and Phulbani are in need of development. The following table lists what these various urban areas and clusters have or are going to have and what they don’t have and the govt. should make efforts to fulfill those lacunae.

As noted above, all these places should have a university, a medical college, good rail connectivity and several job centers.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest business houses of the country having interests in sectors like aluminium, telecom, cement, textiles, fertiliser, mining, retail, finance and insurance plans to invest about Rs 75,000 - 80,000 crore in Orissa.

The proposed amount will be invested in sectors like aluminium,cement, telecom and retail sectors in the state over next few years.

… Birla, who was here to discuss some project related issues with the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, the company also intends to launch its retail business in Orissa as part of its national roll out plan. It will be launched within the next 6 months.

… Stating that the projects are proceeding well, he said, the company is committed to a lot of social work like setting up ITIs and health centres at the project sites.

… Regarding the resistance of the local people to the alumina refinery project Utkal Alumina at Raygada, the group chairman said, a lot of projects are facing the same problem. The company has sought the state government’s intervention in resolving the issue.

He said, ABG took over the company four years ago from Alcan Inc and the company has complied with the rehabilitation and resettlemnet (R& R) package given to it. He, however, was non-commital about any additional package for the project affected people.

" We can not commit on the new package. As long as there is reasonable settlement we will be happy", he pointed out.

Regarding the possibility of investing in the port sector of the state, Birla said, the company is persuing the matter with the Orissa government and is expecting a positive outcome.

It may be noted, Essel Mining, a group company of the ABG had earlier proposed the state government to set up a port at Chudamani. However, the state government had not accepted its proposal.

The major projects of the group in Orissa include Utkal Alumina refinery at Raygada, Hindalco’s alumina smelter and power plant at Sambalpur and 3.5 million tonne per annum cement plant in Sundergarh district.

Exchange4media reports that Radio Choklate is on air in Rourkela. Following is an excerpt from that report.

Radio Choklate, the radio initiative of Oriya daily ‘Sambad’ from Eastern Media Pvt Ltd, has gone on air in Rourkela recently. Monica Nayyar Patnaik, Director, Eastern Media Ltd, said, “We are quite well-known in Orissa, and we feel really proud to enter new markets here with our FM channel. Our objective is to make more cities of this state listen to Odisha’s Apna No. 1.”

Following is an excerpt from http://www.indiaprwire.com/.

BIG 92.7 FM, India’s No.1 Radio station today announced the latest edition to its kitty, with the launch of its Station in Rourkella. The launch of BIG 92.7 FM in the City marks the launch of the 43rd Station of the network. …

In Rourkela, BIG RJ’s Rajiv, Priyanka, Sneha and Shaheen will be entertaining the steel city of Orissa.

The joyride will start at 5am with Aradhana followed by Breakfast show BIG Chai 6am -9 am. Other shows include Hello Zindagi, Ring Road 927, Thoda Gyan Thodi Masti, Evening Masala and Direct Dil Se.

To ensure the highest aspirational appeal and connect with its listeners, BIG 92.7 FM has Abhishek Bachchan as the Brand Ambassador.

Commenting on the station’s entry into Rourkela, Mr. Soumen Ghosh Choudhury, Regional Head East, BIG 92.7 FM, said “We are very excited about launching in the city of Rourkela. We are the first private radio station in the region to do so. The programming mix of the Station with programmes like Aradhana, BIG Chai, Hello Zindagi, Ring Road 927, Thoda Gyan Thodi Masti, Evening Masala and Direct Dil Se have been put together after much research and understanding of local requirements. It is our aim to create content that is relevant, credible and has an aspirational value for the listeners. We are completely geared and are eagerly looking forward to entertaining the city of Rourkela. We are sure the city will welcome us with open arms and will enjoy the programmes on our Station.”

The Orissa government has already involved itself in preparing the master plan for greater Bhubaneswar area. Now there is news regarding its intention to make master plans for 8 more areas. These areas are: Puri-Konark, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Kalinganagar, Paradeep, Jharsuguda, and Talcher-Angul. The govt. is missing a few other areas which it should take up soon. Those are: Baripada, Balasore, Dahamara, Rayagada-Therubali and Koraput-Jeypore. Following are excerpts from a report in Statesman on Orissa govt.’s recent thoughts on this.

In a bid to give major facelift to the upcoming urban areas of the state and for their integrated development, the government will prepare a master plan, within one and half years. The localities include Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Puri-Konark, Talcher-Angul, Paradip, Kalinga Nagar and Jharsuguda. … Mr Patnaik underscored the need of adequately trained personnel to successfully handle the technical problems of under-ground sewerage and solid waste management,…. He also stressed on better sanitation, drinking water, housing and slum development. It may be mentioned here that while Rs 950 crore from the funds of JBIC has been sanctioned for sewerage of Cuttack; the capital city has been allotted Rs 499 crore for the same under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. Rs 88 crore has been sanctioned for drinking water in Cuttack, Berhampur and Sambalpur. Rs 3.65 crore has also been allotted for slum development in Bhubaneswar.

Telegraph also writes about this.

Following is an excerpt from a report in myiris.com.

Adhunik Metaliks commissioned its state-of-art rolling mill at its steel facility at Kuarmunda near Rourkela, reports Business Standard.

The rolling will manufacture a wide range of rolled products which earlier had to be outsourced from third party rolling mills. The installation of the rolling mill is in line with the second phase of expansion of the company`s Orissa project.

The rolling mill will complete a vital link in the entire production value chain. It will enable the company graduate from a seller of intermediate product to finished steel.

Adhunik Metaliks will now be able to cater to the very discerning and quality conscious auto component and tier I customers from the automobile industry.

Following is an excerpt from Pioneer, which mentions what Orissa has requested.

The House Committee of the State Legislative Assembly would soon submit a memorandum to the Union Ministry of Railways demanding Rs 1,000 crore in the Railway Budget for 2008-09. In this connection, a delegation lead by Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty would visit New Delhi on a possible date between November 10 to 17.

During their visit they would meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and submit the memorandum. The House Committee in its meeting on Monday approved the final draft of the memorandum. It may be noted that during 2006-07, the State demanded Rs 785 crore.

In its memorandum, the committee also recommends increase in allotment for ongoing projects, sanction of new railway lines, survey, and introduction of new trains, completion of sanctioned projects, electrification and doubling of lines.

For the expansion of Haridaspur-Paradeep (82 km) line, the committee demands Rs 150 crore to ensure expeditious completion of works. The Ministry of Railways has also been requested to allot Rs 100 crore for the Lanjigarh Road-Junagarha (56 km) line and ensure commissioning of the section between Lanjigarh to Bhawanipatna by December, 2008.

The Committee in its memorandum also demanded an allotment of Rs 100 crore for the Khurda Road-Bolangir (289 km) line and also of commissioning the section from 0-36 km.

On the Angul-Duburi-Sukinda road (90 km) project, the land acquisition process is yet to commence. The Ministry of Railways has been requested to allot Rs 50 crore for the project, the Committee said in its memorandum.

For the Talcher-Bimalagarh (154 km), the Committee demanded an allotment of Rs 50 crore for 2008-09. On the Daitari- Banspani Rail Link Project (155 km), the committee in its memorandum says the BG (Broad Gauge) rail link was commissioned in February,2007. However, residual works will have to be completed. The Ministry of Railways has been requested to allocate Rs 50 crore for this project. It also urged the Railway Ministry to take up gauge conversion works for Rupsa-Bangiriposi and Nuapada-Gunpur railway link.

In its memorandum, the committee also urged the Rail Ministry to start new lines connecting Jeypor-Malknagiri, Bargarha-Nuapda via Padamapur, conversion and extension of Nuapada-Gunupur BG raillink to Theruvali, Jaleswar-Digha, Puri-Konark, Talcher-Gopalpur, Rupsa-Bangiriposi to Gorumahisani, Badampahar to Keonjhar, Berhampur to Phulbani.

The Committee in its memorandum also urged the Ministry to take up survey works in Gopalpur-Rayagada, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road-Jajpur, Sambalpur-Berhampur, Bolangir-Nawapara, Bansapani to Bimalgarh, Lanjhigarha to Boudha via Charichhaka.

It also urged the Railway Ministry to take steps for doubling of the Sambalpur-Talcher BG Rail link, Daitari-Bansapani. The Ministry has also been requested to sanction electrification for Daitari-Banspani BG rail link, Haridaspur-Paradeep BG Rail link, Talcher- Sambalpur BG rail link and Sambalpur, Jharsuguda BG rail link.

I think Orissa is being very shortsighted in its requests. Let me elaborate on this. (See also http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=529 and http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=489 for more data points on this.)

1. The total IR budget in 2006-07 was 23,475 crores and in 2007-08 (1st year of 11th Five yr plan) total Ir budget was 31,000 crores. IR is planning to have a 251,000 crore budget for the 11th Five year plan.

2. In that context Orissa asked for 800 crores in 2006-07 and 830 crores in 2007-08.
The above news report says that we are asking 1000 crores for next year.

3. Based on (1), 220,000 crores will be the total IR budget for the next 4 years and next years budget would probably be 45,000-50,000 crores; almost double that of 2006-07. Thus we should at least ask for double of what we asked in 2006-07. I.e., we should ask for 1600 crores.

4. The Pioneer article has the laundry list of things that we want, and it adds up only to 1000 crores. So we have to be imaginative in what we ask. In this we must note that a big part of the 11th plan IR budget goes towards

(a) two freight corridors (neither passing through Orissa)

(b) high speed rail corridors (none passing through Orissa) and

(c) several metro rails (none in Orissa).
In addition we must note what can be sold to the PM and Rail M. (For example: Rail connectivity to KBK, adivasi areas and naxal areas can be sold if the CM makes a case for them. If every other metro area is going to have metro rail, we can at least sell commuter/sub-urban rail. Similarly, big rail stations like Vizag, which are not in the first list of world class stations, will try to be in the next list; so we must sell Rourkela to be in the next list of world class stations. etc.)
5. Hence, following are my suggestions that we should add:

(i) We should send a 1 year proposal as well as a 4-5 year proposal. The 4-5 year proposal will match the 11th five year plan. The 4-5 year proposal should mention clearly that by the end of year 4-5, the following lines should all be completed.
** Khurda-Balangir
** Gunupur-Theruvali
** Lanjigarh Rd – Bhawanipatna – Junagarh – Nabarangpur- Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh)
** Talcher – Bimlagarh
** Bangiriposi -Gurumahishasini and/or Buramara-Chakulia.
** Badampahar-Keonjhar
in addition to the port connectivity lines of
** Haridaspur - Paradip
** Talcher - Sukinda Rd
** Bhadrakh Dhamara
and the tourism/education connectivity lines of
** Jaleswar - Digha
** Puri-Vedanta U - Konark

Its very important to get a commitment with respect to what should be done with respect to Orissa in the 11th plan.

(ii) We must ask for a rail factory, or two, possibly in PPP mode, to be established in a backward region of Orissa. (Last year they approved 2 in Bihar, one in Rae Bareli and one in Kerala)
(iii) Establishment of suburban-Rail infrastructure around Bhubaneswar with MEMUs and appropriate stations in the Bhubaneswar area to help the commuters without creating jams. The infrastructure is to encompass the following lines.

* Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Puri – Vedanta U – Konark (Past Puri would be new)
* Bhubaneswar – Barang – Naraj-Dhenkanal (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-KhurdaRd - Khurda-Nayagarh (part of Khurda-Balangir)
* Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Paradeep (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Balugaon-Berhampur (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Jajpur Rd-Bhadrakh (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Jakhapura-Daitari (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Naraj-Salagaon (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Khurda-Banki-Naraj (Khurda-Naraj will be new and will create a loop)

(iv) Include Rourkela in the next round of world class stations.
Finally, if the Orissa house is sending a delegation to the PM and Rail M; they should also visit the planning commission and ask for IIT and two central universities (KBK Central U and upgradation of Ravenshaw University.)

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and neighbouring towns will be developed into a greater urban complex of international standards catering to the needs of 42 lakh people by 2030.

The final perspective plan to this effect was presented to chief minister Naveen Patnaik here today by a team from IIT, Kharagpur. B.K. Sengupta, heading the team, said the comprehensive development plan for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Choudwar, Khurda and Jatni would be ready by August 2008.

Subsequently, development plans would be prepared for places like Rourkela, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Talcher-Angul, Kalinga Nagar and Jharsuguda industrial complex, said state urban development minister K.V. Singhdeo.

The final perspective plan has envisaged comprehensive development of a greater urban complex comprising twin cities of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and three adjoining towns spread over 721sqkm at an estimated cost of Rs 34,000 crore.

The required funds would be mobilised through public-private partnership, central government and state government and community contribution, said the urban development minister.

While 11 special zones have been earmarked for extensive development, four have been identified for intensive development and three places (Old Bhubaneswar, Choudwar and Old Cuttack) having heritage value have been set aside for restricted development. Seven sensitive pockets have also been identified.

A patch of farmland on the east of the Kuakhai flowing near Bhubaneswar has also been earmarked for agriculture. The final perspective plan has dwelt on various aspects like transport, traffic decongestion, upgrade of road system, slum development and drainage. Construction of overhead bridges and bypass and the upgrade of road systems have also been planned.

Drainage and sewerage development has also been planned in the twin cities.

A solid waste management plant has been proposed in Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar-Cuttack would be made slum-free. The shanties would be removed and the dwellers would be resettled in planned rehabilitation colonies to be built by private builders on the Dharavi model in Mumbai.

Following is an excerpt from a New Indian Express report on this.

A three member survey team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Friday made a spot assessment of the Rourkela airstrip to find out the feasibility of re-introduction of air connectivity to the city.

Led by senior civil aviation consultant and former executive director of AAI D P Chakravorty the team comprised Air Traffic Controller (East) Timir Bandhopadhyay and AAI’s Chief of Communication R K Chandra.

They have reportedly expressed satisfaction over the existing infrastructure.

The team found the airstrip infrastructre here better than that at Ranchi and Jamshedpur. The team, however, felt the need for a passenger terminal besides further strengthening of the existing fire services.

Following is an excerpt from a New Indian Express report on them.

Do wrong credit card bills scare the daylight out of you while your bank doesn?t give a damn to your complaints?

Are you worried that sanitation work in your locality leaves a lot to be desired and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is not bothered? Have problems with weights and measures issues but you don’t know who to look forward to? You can turn to a group of senior citizens who would guide you how to go about it.

Assembled under the banner of Orissa Consumer Welfare Foundation (OCWF), they have joined hands to make consumers aware about their rights, and in cases, they would even take up your cause and fight on your behalf.

They may be ageing but they come from different walks of life and with a varied experience behind them. Some of them have long been social workers while others have put in decades as professionals.

All that one has to do as a consumer is write to the foundation and drop complaints in their drop-boxes kept at two points in the City. Members of OCWF would get back to them seeking an audience so that next course of action can be decided. …

“Over 90 percent of the consumers are not even aware that when one gets LPG cylinder, the delivery man must weigh it first. The foundation would take up consumer rights activism in an organised manner,” Jena said.

Rout said, OCWF would help individual consumers in different ways. “Not many know who to approach to in case of rights violation and how. We will draft letters, guide them with technicalities.”

The two contact points of OCWF are: 95 & 96, Surya Nagar as well as Sri Aurobindo House, Near Syndicate Bank Building, Kalpana Square.

A similar organization called “Consumer Protection Council, Rourkela” already exists in Rourkela and they even have a website. Their address, phone number, fax and email are:

Consumer Protection Council, Rourkela
C/66, Sector-2
Rourkela-769006. Orissa. India
Ph/Fax: +91-661-2472521, 2640810
Email: vaidya@advantageconsumer.com or rkl_cpcrkl@sancharnet.in

Update: The PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=33543 is a Rajya Sabha answer on this topic.

Following are excerpts from a Times of India report.

The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) on Wednesday unveiled plans to expand and modernise the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) with an investment of Rs 7,800 crore. RSP, which presently has a capacity of 2.2 million tonnes per annum, would be converted into a four MTPA facility by June, 2010. Its production would be further enhanced to eight MTPA by 2019-20, said company’s director (personnel and raw materials) G Ojha here. According to Ojha, RSP’s expansion is part of SAIL’s plan to invest Rs 49,000 crore in its different units and mines within the next three to three-and-half years. … Ojha said that post-expansion, SAIL’s production capacity would touch 26 MTPA of hot metal compared to its existing capacity of 14.6 MTPA. This would mean 23 MTPA of saleable steel," he informed. The company also intends to spend a substantial sum of money to improve its mining operations, including over Rs 1,100 crore in Orissa, he added. Regarding SAIL’s recent MoU with South Korean company Posco, the director said, "We want to indulge in exchange of technology and people. "We also plan collaboration in research and development activities and accordingly, an eight-member team, comprising four from each company, has been formed. This is just the beginning," he said. He allayed fears that the MoU could lead to SAIL’s privatisation and clarified that the pact was not legally enforceable and just an understanding for collaboration. … The SAIL director also reiterated the company’s interest to takeover the Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) in Orissa’s Jajpur district and said, IDBI, as an independent valuer, has already assessed the company’s worth. "In case the stakeholders (MMTC and Orissa government) have any reservations, then we are ready for further parleys. But, ideally, the valuers version should be honoured," he said.

The package described below are:

• Photo IDS for weavers within the next two years.
• Annual training to improve productivity and skill for 2000 weavers.
•  Apparel design and training centers in Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkea and Baripada.
• Development of a fund for the welfare of weavers.
• A raw material bank for handloom materials.
• Integrated project in handloom in Nuapatana.
• Building of 1000 worksheds.
• A handloom museum in Bhubaneswar.

Euitybulls reports on these announcements. Following are some excerpts.

… capital expenditure of Rs 142 crore (+10%) for setting up another cement grinding unit at Kapilas Cement Works, Kapilas Road in Jagatpur Tehsil of Cuttack District of Orissa.

… capital expenditure of Rs 250 crores (+10%) for setting up 2×25 MW Thermal Captive Power Plant and Coal Beneficiation Plant at Rajgangpur Cement Works, District Sundergarh, Orissa.

… capital expenditure of Rs 7.66 crores (+10%) for setting up 1.0 Million Tonnes per annum Hammer Mill at Lanjiberna near Rajgangpur works, Orissa.

Tathya.in reports on this. It seems initial steps have been taken, Air Deecan is very much interested, and just some snags need to be sorted out before scheduled flights can commence. One major snag is that the airstrip in Rourkela, is labeled as “private”. It must be labeled as “public” before scheduled flights can commence. To expedite the removal of the snags, one may do the following:

• Send mail to Rourkela Steel Plant MD Mr. B. N. Singh at rkl_mdsecrsp@sancharnet.com (or call him at 2510018) requesting him to request the Director General Civil aviation (DGCA) to change the status of the SAIL built Rourkela airstrip from “private” to “public”.
• Send mail to CMO office (cmo@ori.nic.in) requesting him to make all out efforts for bringing Rourkela under air connectivity at the earliest.
• Thank the DM of Sundergarh (Mr. Krishan Kumar), who was ADM Rourkela before, for his efforts on this and request him to keep pushing until it is done. He can be reached by email at dmsng@ori.nic.in.
• Tell  like minded friends about this and request them to do the above.

• Burla and Berhampur medical schools seats increased to 150 each (0)
• Fee structure for engineering, MCA, MBA, BDS and Medical announced (2)
• Seat increase in plus 2 science and commerce in many government colleges (0)
• The story of Udaipur library and the man behind it: help needed (0)
• From the AICTE pages: List of approved Pharmacy institutions in Orissa - 2007-08 (July 12 2007) (0)
• From the AICTE pages: List of approved MCA institutions in Orissa - 2007-08 (July 12 2007) (0)
• From the AICTE pages: List of approved MBA institutions in Orissa - 2007-08 (July 12 2007) (0)
• About: Orissa engineering colleges in the AICTE list and their number of seats (July 12 2007) (0)
• Orissa engineering colleges in the AICTE list and their number of seats (July 12 2007) (2)
• More pictures and plan diagrams of proposed Vedanta University (0)
• Management educational opportunities in Rourkela to increase in quality and quantity (0)
• Chandipur PXE gets a national research award (0)
• IIPM School of managemnt, Rourkela: promoted by ICICI and L & T (0)
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan ad with statistics (by the central government) (0)
• Lalit Patnaik’s message on Agamee odisha meeting about KBK University (0)
• Orissa JEE counselling time table (1)
• Two articles and a slide show on Vedanta University in the Chronicles of Higher Education (1)
• Existing Central Universities in India: speculations on where the next ones will be and should be (0)
• Education in the 11th plan: higher education working group recommends medical schools in each central university in the north eastern region (0)
• KIIT plans an autism center at KIMS (1)
• Opportunities in retail management and logistics (0)
• Planning Commission: Report of the Oversight Committee to Monitor Implementation of Reservation in Higher Educational Institutions. (0)
• Naveen requests setting up of a jems and jewellery training institute in Ganjam (2)
• Special school for child laborers (0)
• Cultural dimension of education (1)
• Sarva Siksha Abhiyan: EGS (Education Guarantee Scheme) and its follow-up (0)
• Distance Education programs offered by Berhampur University (0)
• SCB got back the 43 seats it had recently lost (0)
• Two central universities per state (0)
• Seven new IIMs, higher salary for professors etc. (0)
• More details on the new and exisiting central universities (0)
• Two more engineering colleges are being established in Bhubaneswar (0)
• Standing up for the backward areas of Orissa and India (0)
• Groups interested in setting up of private universities in Orissa; land provided by Orissa to various universities (0)
• Center plans to ease MCI conditions for opening medical colleges in NRHM states (0)
• Seat reduction at SCB Medical college; CM writes to center (0)
• Orissa AIEEE site updated for 2007 (10)
• Agami Odisha plans a convention on the KBK Central University issue on July 8th (0)
• Sai International establishing a school near Infocity (1)
• Orissa JEE counseling brochure is available now (17)
• Pragativadi: Prof. Gopal Nayak recommended as IIIT Bhubaneswar director (0)
• Ravenshaw University Vice Chancellor’s presentation in Detroit, MI, USA (0)
• BPUT advertises for M.Tech and M.Pharm (6)
• Jobs at Vedanta for B.Sc graduates (1)
• New Indian Express reports on AIIMS branch in Bhubaneswar (1)
• Analyzing the 2004 Orissa JEE student preferences (14)
• Orissa Engineering Colleges in Dataquest Ranking (1)
• Samaja ad: Sponsored courses at Utkal University (0)
• NISER advtertises for teaching positions (3)
• Tathya.in: PM promises IIT for Orissa (Is this for real? ) (2)
• Pioneer and Statesman: Bhubaneswar in the shortlist for one of the 4 new NIDs in the 11th plan (2)

Tathya.in reports that OTV will now have competition to its cable business. Following are excerpts of that report.

Wire and Wireless India Limited (WWIL and Ushodaya Enterprises Private Limited (UEPL), which controls popular ETV joined hands to float Variety Entertainment Private Limited (VEPL) …

VEPL, which has set up the state of the art control rooms in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela promises to provide better cable services in the cities of Orissa.

Announcing the launching of the services Deepak Chandnani, CEO WWIL, said that it will provide 87 channels of national and regional interest to the viewers in Orissa.

He said the services will be expanded in near future to provide digital services including triple play – voice, video and data under the aegis of “GalaxZee” by digitalization of signals.

Chandnani said GalaxZee will provide crystal clear picture, digital audio and video quality.

More number of channels will be added with multilingual facility, said he.

Provision for e-education, e-commerce gamming and video on demand facilities will be given in near future, said Chandnani.

Arvinda Mohan, Executive Director, WWIL said that the cable network service in Orissa depends on the court’s verdict.

Following is a roundup on HRD related postings at orissawatch.org.

• Foundation For Excellence (FFE) gave 264 scholarships to students from Orissa
• Orissa engineering colleges in Outlook India ranking
• NISER deadline for submitting application form is extended till June 15 2007
• Chennai B-school in Bhubaneswar and Plan for Insurance University in BBSR
• Specialized government management institutions of Orissa
• Branch changes allowed after first year at NIT Rourkela
• Status of private Medical Colleges in the State
• M.Tech and M.Arch programs in Orissa
• KIIT has approval for 100 Medical (MBBS) and 100 Dentistry (BDS) seats.
• Institutions with Nontraditional programs - a dated list
• Biju Patnaik Film and TV institute advertises for admission into its programs
• Apparently Orissa students are doing well in medical entrance exams
• Tathya: Please no politics over IIT
• Pursuing M. Ed in Orissa
• Ranking of Engineering Colleges in Orissa based on student preferences
• Nursing Schools catch on in Orissa
• TCS recruits 1100 students from Orissa engineering colleges

Infrastructure of Rourkela, Orissa

Educational and research infrastructure of Orissa

City Guides in the net.

• WebIndia: Rourkela

Universities in Rourkela.

• Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela
• National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

Research institutes in Rourkela.

• Malaria Research Center Field Station, Rourkela.

Medical/Dental Colleges in Rourkela.

• Various other medical and medical technology instituitions

Management Institutes (granting MBA or equivalent) in Rourkela

• Asian Workers Development Institute, Bastia Smruti Sadan, Rourkela - 769 002 Dist: Sundargarh
• Rourkela Institute of Management Studies, Institutional Area, Gopapabandhunagar, Chhend, Rourkela - 769 015 Dist: Sundargarh
  Rank: [52 in Business world 2004], [45 in Business world 2003]

Engineering Colleges in Rourkela

• Padmanava College Of Engineering Village - Kuarmunda,Sector-4 Rourkela - 769002 Dist. Sundergarh, Orissa.
• Purushottam Instt. Of Engg. & Tech. Kansbahal Mandiakudoor- 770017 Dist. Sundergarh.
• National Institute Of Technology Rourkela - 769 008.

MCA granting institutions in Rourkela

• Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Institute of Information Technology & Management Science, Jagda, Rourkela - 769 042 Dist: Sundargarh
• National Institute of Computer Science, Gafoor Colony, Infront of SBI, Uditnagar, Rourkela - 769 012 Dist: Sundargarh
• Rourkela Institute of Management Studies, Institutional Area, Gopapabandhunagar, Chhend, Rourkela - 769 015 Dist: Sundargarh
• Rourkela Institute of Technology, Kalunga Industrial Estate, Kalunga - 770 031 Dist: Sundargarh
• Tapaswini Institute of Information Technology, L & T Campus, Kansbahal, Rourkela - 770 034 Dist: Sundargarh

Pharmacy schools in Rourkela

• Kanakmanjari Instt. Of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chhend,Sundargarh, Rourkela-769 015, Orissa.,

Autonomous Colleges with Masters programs in Rourkela

• Government College Rourkela (Orissa)

Other institutions with non traditional (i.e., beyond Science/liberal Arts/Commerce/Engg/Medical/MBA etc.) programs

• Indian Institute for Production Management, Kansbahal - 770 034, Near Rourkela, Orissa, INDIA
• Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Koel Nagar Rourkela ORISSA
• Bimbadhar Institute of Visual, and Performing Arts, SUNDARGARH
• Gurukula Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Vedvyas Rourkela
• Rourekela College of Educational Training, ROUREKELA.
• Rourkela Law College, ROURKELA
• Utkalmani Homoeopathy College, ROURKELA.

Fun/Culture/Tourism in and around Rourkela

• Orissa tourism destinations: Rourkela
• Odissi.com — Rourkela
• Mandira resorvoir, Vedavyasa, Deodarha
• Rourkela Travel Guide.

Industries and Industrial infrastructure in and Around Rourkela

• Rourkela Steel plant, SAIL, Rourkela
• STPI, Rourkela
• L & T, Kansbahal
• Cement factory in Rajgangpur
• Indian Metal & Ferro Alloys Ltd.
• Krishna Ferro Products Ltd.
• Fertilizer factory, Rourkela
• Fertilizer factory in Kalunga
• Ref: [1].

Getting to/from Rourkela

• Rourkela is a major station in the Kolkata-Mumbai train line and all major trains between Kolkata and Mumbai stop here.
  • Timings of trains to/from/through Rourkela
  • Indian Railways Schedule
• Rourkela is on NH 23.
• Rourkela has an airport, but no commercial air services yet.