Cuttack, Jul 14: Odisha is set to witness a major milestone in public education and knowledge infrastructure with the inauguration of the state's largest and most modern library in Cuttack on Monday. The newly constructed Library, located near the Palamandap at Badambadi, has been built at a cost of approximately ₹42 crore.

The library will be inaugurated this afternoon by the State Minister for Housing and Urban Development Krushna Chandra Mahapatra.

Designed as a state-of-the-art learning hub, the stilt-plus-three-storey library features a spacious reading hall aimed at helping students prepare for various competitive examinations. The facility also includes a 100-seat auditorium, a cafeteria, ample parking space, and an extensive collection of books, creating an ideal environment for readers, researchers, and students.

The Library has a rich legacy spanning over four decades. It was originally established in 1981 at Saheed Bhawan before being shifted to a dedicated building at Khannagar in 1998. Over the years, it has become a preferred destination for book lovers, scholars, and researchers from Cuttack and neighbouring districts, thanks to its vast collection of books and academic resources.

During the construction of the Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal, the library was temporarily relocated to the premises of the Odisha Administrative Tribunal (OAT) near the Judicial Academy.

The library is named after late Biswanath Pandit, a distinguished freedom fighter and social reformer born in Dagarpada, Cuttack. He was imprisoned for participating in India's freedom struggle and later dedicated his life to championing the rights of Dalits, labourers, and workers through various social movements.

With its modern infrastructure and upgraded facilities, the new Biswanath Pandit Library is expected to emerge as a premier centre for learning, research, and academic excellence in Odisha.