Coronavirus vaccine update: Bharat Biotech to manufacture vaccine in Odisha

Attending a virtual meeting with state chief secretary Asit Tripathy on Friday, BBIL Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Krishna Ella said, "The company has taken up the development and production of new or improved vaccines against severe Rotavirus Diarrhoea, Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Pandemic Influenza, and drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus."

Presenting BBIL's preparedness, Dr. Ella said that the best of technology will be put in the Odisha unit.

Total investment to be around ₹300 cr

"It's a unit at Andharua of Bhubaneswar which would produce ten types of vaccines including malaria and COVID-19 vaccine. The total investment would be around Rs. 300 crores and best of the technology will be put in the unit," Ella added.

BBIL is a multi-dimensional biotechnology organisation specializing in manufacture of vaccines and bio-therapeutics, Ella said.

Meanwhile, Asit Tripathy also assured the BBIL would be provided all support for future expansion of the unit at Andharua. He also directed the concerned authorities to start the ground level construction work within a fortnight and commence production within the scheduled time.

Further, Tripathy asked BBIL to set up a 'state of art' biotech incubation center, common facilities, and IT corridor along with the first phase construction of the industry. The company was requested to promote local startups.

Secretary Skill Development and Technical Education and Chairman and Managing Director IDCO Sanjay Kumar Singh appraised, "The land is readily available at Biotech Park, Andharua for groundbreaking works. The building plan as per the design has also been approved".

Principal Secretary Santosh Sadangi said, "In the meanwhile, the required statutory clearances and pollution control board permission has been availed for setting up the unit".

With agency inputs