Bhubaneswar: A high-level meeting chaired by Principal Secretary of Works Department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, was held to discuss the establishment of handloom hubs and textile parks in Cuttack, Bargarh, and Jajpur districts.
The meeting approved the setting up of an AI and blockchain-supported Handloom Hub at Abhimanpur in Cuttack district on 2.77 acres at a cost of Rs 13.51 crore. The hub will feature administrative offices, a guest house, display shops, weaving centre, exhibition area, and warehouses to boost local handloom, handicrafts, and terracotta sectors. In Bargarh district, a Handloom and Textile Park will be developed on 9.35 acres at Gobindpur at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore.
Additionally, a Weaving Haat at Behera Balijuri will be built on 29.12 acres with 2000 display bins, roads, parking, and food stalls at a cost of Rs 27.57 crore. A similar AI and blockchain-supported Handloom Hub will come up at Gopalpur in Jajpur district on 2 acres at Rs 15 crore, focusing on silk sarees, garments, and tourism promotion.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Guha Punam Tapas Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary of the Tourism Department, Balwant Singh, Special Secretary of the Works Department, Eng. L.K. Padhee, Additional Secretary, Bikramaditya Barik, Additional Director (Silk) Surya Narayan Patnaik, Deputy Director (Textiles) Ashutosh Mohanty.