Rourkela: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for infrastructure projects worth over Rs 200 crore at NIT Rourkela, describing the institute as a key engine of growth for Odisha and the country.
Marking a significant boost to the academic and student-centric development of the premier National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, the Minister inaugurated an Indoor Sports Complex with badminton courts, a multi-purpose hall and cultural spaces built at a cost of over Rs 35 crore.
The complex has been built to international standards and aims to promote sports, fitness, and holistic student development. The facility includes multipurpose courts, squash courts, yoga and cultural halls, a gymnasium, recreational rooms, and indoor sports facilities. The adjoining open-air theatre, built at a cost of Rs six crore, will serve as a hub for cultural, recreational, and athletic activities and is expected to host state- and national-level events, officials said.
The Union Minister also laid foundation ston
es for several infrastructure projects worth around Rs 180 crore, including a Civil Engineering Department building, a 500-bed girls’ hostel, and a guest house.
Speaking on the occasion, Dharmendra said the new facilities will help students excel in academics, sports and innovation.
The Minister praised NIT alumni-led startup Koratia Technology for supplying indigenous underwater robotics to the Indian Navy, highlighting the institute’s role in nation-building.
He also noted that NIT Rourkela and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) together form the backbone of the region’s growth. With the Steel Plant set to expand by 2030, he said both institutions will play a vital role in India’s future development.
Welcoming the dignitaries, NIT Rourkela Director Prof K Umamaheshwar Rao said the new infrastructure reinforces the Institute’s commitment to providing a world-class and student-centric learning environment. He noted that NIT Rourkela ranks 2nd among all NITs and 13th in engineering education nationwide in the NIRF 2025 rankings, and is the only NIT in the top ten for Sustainable Development Goals.
The Union Minister also visited the construction site of the permanent Kendriya Vidyalaya on campus. Dean of Planning and Development Prof Pradip Sarkar informed that over Rs 800 crore worth of infrastructure projects are in the pipeline, including hostels, faculty and staff residences, an extension academic campus at Bhubaneswar, and sustainable support facilities.