Bhubaneswar KIIT University allegedly obstructs road to NIFT

Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT University in Bhubaneswar and former Biju Janata Dal MP, faces allegations of encroaching upon public infrastructure. A public road has been appropriated by the varsity authorities under the guise of institutional expansion, with accusations pointing to the establishment of a gate on an IDCO (Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation) road, sources claimed on Monday.

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This has ostensibly restricted public access, with security personnel preventing entry to non-affiliates.

The encroachment reportedly affects employees and students of prominent institutions, such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), who are now compelled to take longer alternate routes. Observations indicate that IDCO's warnings against illegal parking on this public road have gone unheeded; raising concerns about governance and regulatory oversight.

Allegation of 'IDCO-owned road' encraochment in nutshell

The controversy centres around Gate No-6 of the KIIT campus, where alleged blocking of vehicles belonging to NIFT staff and hindered the delivery of parcels have further fanned the flames of discontent. Despite the IDCO’s erection of ‘No Parking’ signs, the area remains contentious, seemingly doubling as a ‘de facto’ private parking space for KIIT.

Questions loom over IDCO's muted response to the encroachment allegations, especially given the timing of the construction, which coincided with Achyuta Samanta's political tenure in the now Opposition party. The lack of a decisive governmental intervention has prompted speculation on whether action will be taken to restore public access.

“Achyuta Samanta is a land-grabber and land mafia. He has encroached my land too and constructed a road on it and erected double gates. He is a habitual offender and is used to often do this,” a local resident, Ajay Badajena said to OTV.

“Initially, Achyuta Samanta encroaches on the land of IDCO and subsequently uses his political clout to regularise the possessions. Some IDCO officials have unholy nexus with Samanta and they help him in his illegal activity,” an RTI activist, Pradeep Pradhan stated.

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Questions remain, and many are closely watching to see if the Odisha government will intervene, potentially dismantling what many see as an audacious overreach on public property.

Repeated attempts to obtain a response from KIIT authorities regarding these accusations have not resulted in any comment yet.

Reported By: Ramakanta Nayak, Archana Satpathy, Niranjan Reddy, Kapilendra Pradhan