Bhubaneswar, Jan. 16: The state government has begun an exercise to revise the fees of 35 government-run engineering and polytechnic schools. Another 116 private engineering schools have requested the government to hike their fees.

The increased fee will affect close to 1.5 lakh students.

The 35 government-run institutions now charge a course fee of Rs 5,500 a student. The 116 private colleges charge an annual fee of Rs 26,500.

Odisha Private Engineering Schools' Association - the forum of privately managed diploma institutions of the state - has since long been demanding a fee hike.

Management of technical institutions, including diploma engineering courses, is governed by Odisha Professional Education Act 2007. Under this act, the fee structure committee is entrusted with fixing of fees every three years.

However, since 2010, there has been no modification in the diploma engineering fee structure.

Saroj Sahoo, who heads the Odisha Private Engineering Schools' Association, said it had become very difficult to manage these institutions.

"With the recent economic development emphasising on the manufacturing sector in our country, there will be increasing demand for diploma engineering students in industries," said Pratap Jena, another college promoter.

"However, our institutions need to invest considerably to modernise infrastructure, laboratories and workshops. Shortage of funds due to very low course fees is hampering these expansions and modernisation plans," Jena added.

The technical education department has already initiated efforts for the revision of fee structure for government-run institutions.

The Odisha Private Engineering Schools' Association has also requested the government to collect the first-year admission fee during counselling.