Bhubaneswar: The Government Polytechnic in Bhubaneswar has achieved a remarkable national milestone by securing a prestigious place in the India Book of Records for creating the “Largest Outlined Map of Odisha made by an educational institution.”
This outstanding achievement stands as a testament to the institution’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and technical excellence, firmly rooted in the principles of the circular economy.
The record-setting project was accomplished under the visionary leadership of Rajat Kumar Panigrahi, Principal of Government Polytechnic, Bhubaneswar, a distinguished figure in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector with over three decades of experience.
Widely known as the “Scrap Man of Odisha,” Dr. Panigrahi is celebrated for his pioneering work in upcycling scrap materials into meaningful artistic and functional creations that promote environmental responsibility.
A dedicated team of 15 students worked meticulously under his guidance to bring this monumental project to life. The outlined map of Odisha, measuring an impressive 35 feet in height and 15 feet in width, was fabricated using scrap GI sheets, iron rods, artificial grass, and energy-efficient LED strips. The responsible use of LED lighting aligns the project with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), reinforcing the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Developed as part of the Waste-to-Wealth / Scrap-to-Art initiative and aligned with the national cleanliness campaign Swachhata Hi Seva, the sculpture was crafted entirely from unused and discarded metal materials. Beyond its visual grandeur, the artwork symbolically represents Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, unity, and progressive outlook, while delivering a strong message on responsible resource utilisation.
The project also served as a powerful experiential learning platform. Students actively engaged in cutting, welding, grinding, drilling, shaping, and surface finishing processes, gaining valuable hands-on exposure to real-world engineering challenges. This initiative strengthened their technical skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities while reinforcing the institution’s strong commitment to circular economy practices.
Through this record-setting Scrap-to-Art initiative, the polytechnic has successfully demonstrated how education, sustainability, and innovation can converge—transforming waste into a powerful symbol of Odisha’s identity, progress, and environmental responsibility.
