Bhubaneswar, Nov. 18: Utkal University is set to establish an engineering college in the capital.

This decision has raised a few eyebrows as the state already has 103 engineering colleges in which more than 22,000 seats remained vacant this year.

“The proposal to set up a new technical college has already been discussed by the syndicate and will be taken up by the academic council. The target is to start the new institute by the next academic session. A committee of experts will be set up to finalise the project,” Utkal University vice-chancellor P.K. Sahoo told The Telegraph.

“The team would discuss technical and academic aspects of the institute. Based on its recommendations, the institute will be set up,” said Sahoo.

The college will be located on the varsity campus and will have modern facilities and equipment. “We are trying to bring in diversification. For the staff salary, pension and modernising the varsity, there is a need for adequate funds. The UGC and state government have already asked state universities to try and raise their own funds. Only then can the varsity be self sustainable,” said the vice-chancellor.

Officials said a special budget would be sanctioned to make various provisions for the proposed institute.

However, this initiative by the university has surprised many people because technical education in the state is passing through a grim phase. About 22,000 of the 38,000-odd engineering seats are lying vacant. This number is around 5,000 more than last year.

“It’s a strange time to think of starting an engineering college,” said Ganesh Jena, proprietor of a city-based engineering college.

But the varsity authorities are confident. “There is definitely a lot of scope. Utkal University is a premier university and has earned a good name at the national level. Like all other self-financing courses that we have launched, this would also be a successful one,” said PG council chairman Pradip Kumar Sarkar.

At present, most of the engineering colleges are affiliated to the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT). There are 101 engineering colleges under BPUT, of which seven are government colleges. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Sikshya ‘O’ Anusandhan University run the other two engineering colleges.