ଆଉ ପାଦେ ଆଗେଇଲା ରାଜ୍ୟର ପ୍ରଥମ ସମ୍ବାଦ ପତ୍ର ‘ଉତ୍କଳ ଦୀପିକା’ର ସ୍ମୃତି ସାଉଁଣ୍ଟିବା ପଦକ୍ଷେପ,  ଐତିହ୍ୟସ୍ଥଳୀରେ ପରିଣତ କରିବ କେଏମ୍‌ସି

According to a report from Kanak News, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (KMC) has announced plans to transform the historic site associated with the state's first newspaper, 'Utkal Deepika', into a protected heritage location. The initiative follows a series of public appeals and a formal petition submitted by residents to the Chief Minister of Odisha, seeking to preserve the legacy of the publication.

'Utkal Deepika' was first published on August 4, 1866, from a location in the Dargah Bazar area of Cuttack. The newspaper was founded through the efforts of Karmabir Gouri Shankar Ray and was printed at the Cuttack Printing Press. While the original printing machinery is currently housed in the state's printing museum, the land where the newspaper was established has remained largely neglected, with portions currently occupied by a bank and other sections left in a state of disrepair.

During a recent meeting attended by local media representatives, the Mayor of Cuttack confirmed that the municipal corporation intends to take formal steps to reclaim and restore the site. The project aims to honor the historical significance of the newspaper, which played a pivotal role in the socio-political landscape of 19th-century Odisha. Local authorities are expected to finalize the development plan in the coming months to ensure the site is properly recognized as a heritage landmark.