Work on Odia university yet to pick up pace

Bhubaneswar: Work on the upcoming Odia University at Sakhigopal in Puri district is progressing at a snail’s pace since chief minister Naveen Patnaik laid its foundation stone on October 9, 2018.The state government had given administrative approval for the university only last year and sanctioned Rs 60 crore for its infrastructure development. The Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Limited (OBCC) is implementing the project. The boundary wall has been completed, but the building works are yet to be finished.The university does not even have an officer on special duty (OSD) to monitor the work. Bijay Nayak, who was the OSD earlier, was appointed as additional secretary, press, to President Droupadi Murmu. Following this, the OSD post is yet to be filled up.“We have started the process to appoint an OSD to look after the daily affairs of the university. We have received six applications for the post. The general administration department will issue the order of appointment,” said an official of the higher education department.There was no clarity from the department about the university’s functioning. Official sources said civil construction of the project is under way. Staff appointment is yet to be started. No discussion has been conducted regarding commencement of classes.The university is coming up on 25 acres of land near Satyabadi Bana Vidyalaya, established by the Panchasakha — Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Acharya Harihar Das, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Krupasindhu Mishr