Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has decided to establish a modern library in memory of the great freedom fighter late Biswanath Pandit at the Puri-Angul bus stand located at Badambadi in Cuttack city.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the iconic building for Biswanath Pandit Library with a cost of 30,58,31,100.

During the visit of 5T Secretary VK Pandian to Cuttack during the CMO public grievance, the local people had apprised about the immediate need for the library, and its proximity to the bus stand for the benefit of people coming from nearby villages and towns.

The modern library will have a grand reading hall, which will be useful for students in their preparation to crack different competitive examinations, the CMO stated in a release today.

The stilt plus 3-floor library will have a 100-capacity auditorium, cafeteria, ample parking area apart from a wide stock of books, and a conducive environment for learning.

Started in the year 1981 at Saheed Bhawan and later shifted to a new building at Khannagar in the year 1998, Biswanath Pandit library has always been the desired destination for book lovers and researchers alike. People from nearby areas also visited the library for its extensive collection of books. The library had been shifted to the Odisha Administrative Tribunal (OAT) near Judicial Academy due to construction of the Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal.

Notably, late Biswanath Pandit was born at Dagarpada in Cuttack. He was jailed joining the freedom movement of the country. Taking part in social movement, he later fought for dalits, labourers and workers in his lifespan.

The Chief Minister expressed the hope that the establishment of a library in the name of late Biswanath Pandit would give due respect to the memory of the great freedom fighter and people especially youth would be aware and get inspired about his contribution to Odisha.