New Disaster Recovery-cum-Data Centre at Dharanidhar University will keep critical government services running through disasters, cyberattacks and major disruptions
Bhubaneswar, October 13, 2026: Cabinet Gives the Nod
The Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Tuesday approved the establishment of a Disaster Recovery-cum-Data Centre (DR-cum-DC) at Keonjhar, putting the Odisha State Data Centre (OSDC) on course for a major resilience upgrade. The project carries an estimated cost of Rs 176.83 crore, and the facility is designed to ensure that critical government digital services continue to function without interruption even when disaster, cyberattack or large-scale disruption strikes.
Why the State Needs a Backup Brain
The OSDC is the core digital infrastructure of the state, hosting government applications, databases and common platforms that support Government-to-Government, Government-to-Business and Government-to-Citizen services. Because so many public services depend on this single backbone, the government has decided that a site-level disruption at the primary facility in Bhubaneswar must not translate into a breakdown of services for citizens and businesses. The new centre is meant to strengthen the state’s capacity for business continuity, disaster recovery and cyber resilience.
Why Keonjhar, Why Dharanidhar University
The facility will come up on the South Campus of Dharanidhar University in Keonjhar district. The location provides the geographical separation from the primary data centre at Bhubaneswar that a genuine disaster recovery site requires, so that an event affecting one site is far less likely to knock out the other.
Built to Stand on Its Own Feet
The proposed centre will have its own independent power supply, cooling systems, connectivity, computing infrastructure, storage, backup systems, networking and cybersecurity arrangements. These independent systems will allow the facility to work as a recovery site without relying entirely on the infrastructure available at the primary data centre, which is the key test of any disaster recovery set-up.
Where the Money Goes
The project is estimated at Rs 176,83,33,688. Of the total outlay, Rs 154 crore has been earmarked for capital expenditure, while Rs 22.83 crore will be spent on operational expenditure over five years. The remaining expenditure will be met by the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) from the State Data Centre maintenance budget of the Electronics and Information Technology Department.
Contract Awarded
In the same meeting, the Cabinet approved the award of the work to Krystal Integrated Services Limited for establishing the DR-cum-DC at Keonjhar. An official who briefed mediapersons said the project will provide a geographically independent recovery facility for critical government digital services and strengthen the state’s preparedness to maintain secure, reliable and citizen-centric services during any disaster or major disruption.
A Growing Digital Footprint for the East
The decision comes at a time when India’s data centre sector is drawing heavy investor attention. Real estate consultant CBRE estimates that the sector attracted about USD 173 billion in investment commitments since 2021, including roughly USD 38 billion in the first half of 2026 alone. Unlike those commercial hyperscale projects, however, the Keonjhar facility is a state-owned recovery site focused on governance continuity. No construction timeline was announced in the coverage available so far.
