Odisha cabinet approves Rs 393.63 crore free Wi-Fi scheme for colleges
The Odisha Shikshanet programme will provide 601 government and aided colleges with high-speed internet starting from the 2026-27 academic year.
The Odisha cabinet on Monday approved the ‘Odisha Shikshanet’ scheme, which will provide free high-speed Wi-Fi to 601 government and aided colleges across the state. According to The Times of India, the project has a total outlay of Rs 393.62 crore and will be implemented over three years starting from 2026-27.
Under the flagship programme, students will receive up to 1GB of free internet data every day on campus. The facility is intended to support academic work, research, and skill development, while also providing access to digital libraries and virtual classrooms.
Chief secretary Anu Garg said the initiative would build on a first phase that provided Wi-Fi to 130 colleges. She noted that the programme is expected to assist over six lakh students and faculty members, especially those from economically weaker sections and rural or remote areas.
The project includes the installation of Wi-Fi infrastructure, bandwidth provisioning, network management, and cybersecurity. It also covers operation and maintenance support, with a centralised monitoring dashboard to track usage, uptime, and network security.
In a separate decision, the cabinet approved the construction of the 600 MW Upper Indravati pumped storage project in Kalahandi district at a cost of Rs 4,708.64 crore.