Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation stones for six projects at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Rourkela, Odisha. Among these projects are three girls’ hostels, each with a 500-bed capacity, aimed at accommodating more female students. The NIT has allocated 15 acres for both boys’ and girls’ hostels. Notably, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has funded one of the girls’ hostels with Rs 42.69 crore under its CSR activity, while another is funded by the Ministry of Education under the EWS scheme fund. The remaining project, costing Rs 165.81 crore, will be completed with the support of the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). The institute plans to utilize half of the allocated area for a boys’ hostel, capable of housing 1000 students, and three-fourths of the area for the three girls’ hostels. The remaining section will be reserved for future hostel construction.

During the event, Minister Pradhan highlighted the significance of NIT Rourkela, which hosts over 8,000 students and is considered a prestigious educational institution. He emphasized that more than 3,000 students from Odisha are currently studying at NIT Rourkela, and the unveiled projects are expected to benefit over 2,500 students. Additionally, Minister Pradhan inaugurated a Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) on the same day, bringing the total number of KVs in Rourkela to three. The collective efforts aim to enhance educational facilities and opportunities in the region.