The State Government is planning to make operational nine new polytechnics from this academic session.
After receiving a nod from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Directorate of Technical Education and Training (DTET) has included these in the Diploma Entrance Test (DET) which is scheduled for May 18.
Each of new polytechnics has been sanctioned 180 seats in mechanical, electrical and civil branches. Those will be set up in Angul, Jajpur, Boudh, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Puri and Bargarh districts.
In fact, the AICTE had given sanction to 22 polytechnics of which eight started operating in 2013. Apart from the nine institutions set to go on stream this academic session, another five will begin from 2015.
However, the DTET is racing against time to set up the new polytechnics so that academic session can start by July.
The Government has asked the Odisha State Industries Corporation to take up construction work of the buildings.
“We are hopeful that the polytechnic buildings will be ready by June 30 so that classes can start on time but we have to put in extra efforts for the institutes in Kalahandi, Nuapada and Boudh,” said an official.
At present, there are 21 government polytechnics with an intake capacity of 8,000 whereas the seat strength of private institutions is well over 30,000.
For the DET, the DTET authorities have received over 62,000 applications.
There was poor response to the application process after the launch of online submission system.
In at least 8 districts including Kendrapara, Kandhamal, Balasore, Balangir, Gajapati, Sonepur, Sambalpur and Nabarangpur, there was no response from the candidates which prompted the Employment and Technical Education and Training Department to ask the collectors to take remedial measures.
Later, it came to the fore that the online application form had a column where candidates had to submit their Class X marks.
Since the results had not been announced then, candidates did not apply online apprehending rejection.
“We re-advertised and waived that option which facilitated the application process.
The number of applications we have received is a healthy one,” the sources added.