Cuttack: Odisha govt on Tuesday inaugurated its largest and most modern public library in Cuttack, a Rs 42-crore knowledge hub named after freedom fighter and social reformer late Biswanath Pandit.It boasts of a collection of more than a lakh books, covering literature, science, technology, history, law, competitive examinations and other subjects. The facility will boost reading culture and provide world-class learning infrastructure for students, researchers and general public.Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra near Palamandap in Cuttack on Tuesday.The centrally air-conditioned library has been equipped with modern facilities to cater to evolving needs of readers, besides a spacious reading hall with the capacity to accommodate nearly 2,000 readers at a time, making it one of the largest public reading spaces in Odisha.The library also houses an 86-seat auditorium, an audio-video conferencing hall, a dedicated children’s section, a cafeteria, ample parking space and disabled-friendly drinking water and washroom facilities.Officials said the facility has been designed to provide a quiet and technology-enabled environment for learning, research and academic interaction while encouraging reading habits among people of all age groups.Minister Krushna Mahapatra said, “The new library reflects the state’s commitment to building world-class educational infrastructure. This is more than just a library. It is a modern knowledge centre that will nurture learning, innovation and research, which will benefit students and future generations.” Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh said, “The library would emerge as a landmark institution in the state. Constructed at a cost of Rs 42 crore over three acres, the library is equipped with world-class amenities and can accommodate around 2,000 readers, simultaneously. With over a lakh books, an auditorium, audio-video conferencing facilities and a dedicated children’s section, it has been designed to meet needs of students preparing for competitive examinations as well as researchers and the general public,” added Singh.The inauguration is expected to significantly enhance Cuttack’s educational landscape by providing one of the country’s most modern public library facilities, offering a vibrant space for learning, research and intellectual exchange under one roof while carrying forward the legacy of freedom fighter Biswanath Pandit.
