Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday urged the prime minister Narendra Modi to take steps for establishment of National Institute of New Energy and Innovation (NINEI) in Bhuabaneswar.

Patnaik, in a letter to the prime minister, has stated that even though the state government has provided the land, the construction of the Institute is yet to be started. Pointing out that the union ministry of new and renewable energy has close down the regional office at Bhubanewar with immediate effect, he has said that this would hamper the establishment of the Institute.

The chief minister has urged the prime minister to intervene in the matter and issue instruction to commence construction of the Institute and reopen the regional office at Bhubaneswar.

The state government has already allocated 73.68 acres of land near the IIT, Bhubaneswar for the Institute. Further, one acre land has been identified in Bhubaneswar city for the city office of the Institute.

The chief minister had written three DO letters on 05.02.2016,  23.08.2016 and 16.05. 2017 to the prime minister for the construction of the Institute.