Utkal Varsity Students Protest RD Women’s Varsity Second Campus, Block NH

Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of students of Utkal University, supported by the University staff and teachers, on Thursday staged a road blockade on National Highway-5 near Vani Vihar Square in protest against the decision of the Odisha government to set up the second campus of Rama Devi Women’s University in their premises.

Vehicular traffic came to a standstill due to the blockade.

Following the incident, Shahid Nagar police rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the students but to no avail. The irate students warned that they would continue the protest till the government withdraws its decision on this issue.

Taking note of the situation, vice chancellor of Utkal University SM Patnaik had a meeting with the senior government officials. However, the outcome of the meeting was not known.

The irate students of Utkal University, who on Wednesday had staged a sit-in dharna in front of the main gate against the decision of the government, said they would fight against the one-sided decision taken by the government and not allow a single inch of land.

“The state government instead of identifying land for the second campus of Rama Devi in some other areas in Bhubaneswar has decided to set up the campus on 30 acres of land inside the premises of our university. We will not accept the decision under any circumstances,” said an agitating student.

As per the decision taken by the government, the new campus will be built on 30 acres land on the Utkal University premises. The state government has formed a special committee for identification of land and other procedures.  The panel headed by the Utkal University Vice-Chancellor will identify land for the purpose.

The other members of the committee include RD Women’s University Vice-Chancellor Padmaja Mishra, Additional Secretary to Higher Education Department and a representative of General Administration (GA) Department.

The committee will submit a detailed report in this matter to the government by February 15.