Amid the delay in setting up of the proposed MSME technology centre at Rourkela, Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expeditious implementation of the project.
On Thursday, Majhi shot off a letter to the PM stating that the technology hub was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in November 2018 under the technology systems programme of the Ministry of MSME. Rourkela was identified as one of the 20 new technology centres to be established across the country.
The proposed centre is envisioned to provide advanced manufacturing technology support and skill training to local enterprises and expected to create a strong pool of skilled manpower in the tribal district of Sundargarh by training around 6,000 youths annually.
The Odisha government has already provided over 14.45 acre of land at Kantajharan adjacent to the National Institute of Technology-Rourkela (NIT-R). It is a matter of concern that seven years have passed since approval, but there has been no visible progress towards grounding of the project, said Majhi, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on MSME.
The MP further said the prolonged delay has led to widespread disappointment and discontentment among the local people, especially the youths who were hopeful of employment-oriented skill development. “I request your kind intervention to expedite grounding and implementation of the technology centre at Rourkela at the earliest, so that the intended benefits reach the people of the region,” he said in the letter.
Earlier, while replying to a Lok Sabha question of Majhi in March this year, Union Minister of state for MSME Sobha Karandlaje had stated that DPRs and building documents for 13 of the 20 technology centres where land was in possession of the Ministry have been prepared with approval of the competent authority.
Bids were floated in November 2024 inviting proposals from private players for establishment of the centres in 13 locations including Rourkela. In case there was no response from private players, the centres would be established in autonomous mode.
Sources said looking for a private partner, IRCON International, the nodal agency, had published tender notice on November 11, 2024 for a value of Rs 193.63 crore for the proposed technology centre at Rourkela with the opening date being March 12, 2025. However, further information was not available.