📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Athulvis
Education
Odisha Approves ₹394 Crore Free Wi‑Fi Project for 601 State Colleges
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 10 Nov 2026, 01:32 PM
👁 18
The Odisha government has sanctioned a ₹394 crore scheme to provide free Wi‑Fi connectivity across 601 higher‑education institutions in the state.
The state cabinet of Odisha gave the green light to a massive digital infrastructure programme worth ₹394 crore, aimed at installing free Wi‑Fi services in 601 colleges across the region. The initiative is expected to bridge the connectivity gap for students and faculty, enabling smoother access to online resources and e‑learning platforms.
Implementation will be coordinated by the Department of Higher Education, which will oversee network installation, maintenance and security. The rollout is slated to begin in the coming months, with priority given to institutions that currently lack reliable internet access.
Funding for the project will be drawn from the state’s budget allocation for digital education, aligning with the central government’s broader push for a digitally empowered nation. Officials anticipate that the scheme will enhance academic performance, support research activities, and prepare the youth for a technology‑driven job market.
The scheme also reflects Odisha’s commitment to the National Digital Education Architecture, aiming to create uniformly high‑quality digital infrastructure in public higher‑education institutions.
Implementation will be coordinated by the Department of Higher Education, which will oversee network installation, maintenance and security. The rollout is slated to begin in the coming months, with priority given to institutions that currently lack reliable internet access.
Funding for the project will be drawn from the state’s budget allocation for digital education, aligning with the central government’s broader push for a digitally empowered nation. Officials anticipate that the scheme will enhance academic performance, support research activities, and prepare the youth for a technology‑driven job market.
The scheme also reflects Odisha’s commitment to the National Digital Education Architecture, aiming to create uniformly high‑quality digital infrastructure in public higher‑education institutions.