Bhubaneswar: The Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Odisha, plans to set up a submarine Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Puri, to establish Odisha as a global digital hub. In a meeting held on Wednesday, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja directed early submission of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to ensure completion of the project within three years.
India has around 17 submarine cables, terminating at 14 distinct CLS. A CLS is a facility located on the coast where undersea fibre optic cables carrying international telecommunications and internet traffic connect to terrestrial networks. The CLS are located in Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Tuticorin and Thiruvananthapuram.
The DPR is being prepared jointly by RailTel and Deloitte. According to a statement released by the department, the initiative will strengthen Odisha’s digital infrastructure, catalyse investments in data centres, attract top-tier technology players and generate jobs. Ahuja underscored the need for consultations with hyperscalers and key ecosystem players to ensure a comprehensive and future-ready implementation.
The Odisha CLS is a flagship initiative of the state government, designed with a strategic vision for scalability and ecosystem development. The government remains committed to making the state a magnet for digital investments, unlocking immense opportunities for businesses, technology companies and the workforce.
Puri was identified as an ideal location for the CLS due to its strategic geographic position, suitable coastline, scalability potential and robust infrastructure. The facility will provide direct international fibre connectivity, reduce latency, improve internet speed and position Odisha as a prime destination for hyperscalers, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and enterprises. Once implemented, Odisha stands to become a key node in the global digital network, further strengthening India’s role in the data-driven economy.
Among the others present at the meeting were Manas Ranjan Panda, Special Secretary, Electronics and IT Department-cum-Managing Director, OCAC, Zakir Hussain Siddiqui, Principal Executive Director, RailTel and Avinna Kumar Pahi, Technical Advisor (Telecom), OCAC.
