Bhubaneswar: The higher education department will start five new undergraduate degree colleges in the state from the upcoming academic session.

They include four new science colleges and one arts college. "Each of these colleges will have intake capacity of 128 each and will offer honours degrees in various subjects," said a senior official of the state higher education department. The colleges have been named as Shree Ganesh Plus Three Science Residential College at Astarang in Puri district, E-tech Residential Degree College in Dhenkanal, Regional College at Ganeibila in Kamakhyanagar, Ganesh Institute of Engineering and Science, Technology in Khurda district and Divine Degree College at Lenkudipada in Nayagarh district.

Admission to these colleges will be conducted from the 2018-19 academic session. "The infrastructure and other resources of the newly established colleges were reviewed before giving a green signal to start intake of students," said the officer.

The department ha also decided to open new departments in six colleges under Berhampur Regional Directorate of Education and seven colleges under Sambalpur Regional Directorate of Education. Also, a number of colleges have been granted permission to start new courses. As many as 31 colleges have been given nod for starting professional courses. Also, five professional training institutes have been given permission to introduce new courses.

At Nimapara Autonomous College in Puri, a postgraduate department of geology will be opened with a student strength of 16.

In another development, the Rural Institute of Higher Studies (RIHS), the government-aided institution at Bhograi in Balasore district has received permission to open postgraduate courses in Odia and English with 16 seats in each department.