Massive infra boom for NIT Rourkela: A sneak peek into projects on the cards

The National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT-R) is undergoing a transformative infrastructure overhaul to accommodate its growing campus population after the institute secured Rs 208.5 crore through loans and corporate donations.

The sum includes Rs 165.8 crore from the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA), a joint venture of Canara Bank and the Ministry of Education (MoE), according to The New Indian Express.

Under HEFA’s Window-1 scheme, NIT-R will repay only the principal amount in two annual instalments of Rs 16.5 crore, with the MoE covering interest.

An additional Rs 42.7 crore was sanctioned by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for a girls’ hostel, while Coal India Limited (CIL) provided Rs 26 crore for a Kendriya Vidyalaya building.

Hostel Capacity to Double…

To address student housing shortages, NIT-R launched construction of a 1,000-seat boys’ hostel and a 500-seat girls’ hostel, set for completion within three years.

A second 500-seat girls’ hostel, funded by MCL’s CSR initiative, and a 500-seat EWS hostel backed by MoE are also in the pipeline.

Once operational, these facilities will boost hostel capacity from 4,500 to 7,000, catering to the institute’s 8,000 students. It is worth noting that the campus community, including staff and families, surpasses 13,000 residents, highlighting the need for decongestion.

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Sewage Plant, Staff Residences Added

A five million-litre-per-day sewage treatment plant (STP) is slated for construction to manage wastewater sustainably.

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is executing all HEFA-funded projects, including 72 faculty residences and 72 staff quarters, with the latter costing Rs 35 crore and being financed through NIT-R’s internal funds.

Campus-Wide Upgrades

The reports also added that a permanent Kendriya Vidyalaya building, replacing temporary structures, will soon rise at a cost of Rs 36 crore, with CIL covering 72% of the expenses. Notably, the institute’s annual budget includes a Rs 220–230 crore grant from the MoE and Rs 45–50 crore from student fees.

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NIT-Rourkela’s expansion aims to attract talent, improve living standards, and align with sustainable development goals. With projects set to finish by 2026, the institute is poised to enhance its reputation as a leading engineering hub in eastern India.