Orissa CM's nod for university status to Khallikote, RD colleges

The state government on Thursday approved the proposals to upgrade Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur and, RD Autonomous Women's College, Bhubaneswar to universities.

Higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahy told the media that the universities would function from 2015-16 academic year. RD will become a women's university. Around 50 women's colleges, which are under Utkal University, will be affiliated to it. The exact shape of the university and its affiliated colleges will be decided soon. Besides the existing 25-acre campus, the government will look for another 25 acre for its second campus, the minister said.

Khallikote will be part of a cluster university, comprising five nearby colleges. The other four are S D Women's College and Binayak Acharya College in Berhampur, besides colleges at Chhatrapur and Gopalpur, the minister said.

The government will spend Rs 55 crore each on infrastructure development of the two universities. The funds will be drawn from Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan, a central-sponsored programme for higher education.

-TNN | Apr 24, 2015

Famous Thakurani Yatra extended by 11 days in Berhampur

In view of popular demand, the district administration in Ganjam has extended the famous Thakurani Yatra on April 19, 2015 in Berhampur by 11 days. The biennial festival, which started on March 28, will continue till April 27, officals said today.

Initially, the district administration had allowed the festival committee to hold the yatra for 20 days even though the latter had sought permission for 31 days.

"Several people approached the district administration requesting for extension of the festival", said Sub-Collector (Berhampur) Nikhil Pawan Kalyan.

The festival is attracting huge crowd from different places and hundreds of the people are thronging the Silk City to witness the famous Yatra. Locals dressed like mythological characters are seen moving around the city and so are chariots in different shapes like boita (ship) and doli (swing).