Rourkela beautification: City admin to clear Chhend Colony dumping ground, reclaim land

The smart city of Rourkela is on the cusp of a significant urban transformation as the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) ramps up its beautification campaign, with a key focus on clearing the legacy dumping ground at Chhend Colony.

According to reports by The New Indian Express, the 25-acre site, once an eyesore and a source of environmental concern, is now being actively reclaimed through bio-mining techniques, with full clearance targeted by July 2025.

The plot, strategically located between Rourkela Airport and the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) campus, has been earmarked for residential and commercial redevelopment.

Bio-mining, Airport Expansion & Future Land Use

Notably, bio-mining of legacy waste began in 2022, and as of late 2023, around 2 lakh tonnes of solid waste were removed, with approximately 40,000–50,000 tonnes still remaining. The site had long been an illegal dumping ground, creating mountains of waste and severely impacting local ecology and air quality, said the reports.

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NIT-Rourkela: A parallel Push in Infrastructure

In a parallel development, the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (NIT-R) is undergoing a massive infrastructural upgrade.

Backed by Rs 208.5 crore in funding from the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) and public-sector companies like MCL and CIL, the institute is preparing to accommodate a growing campus population exceeding 13,000 residents.

Key initiatives include the construction of new boys’ and girls’ hostels, expansion of faculty and staff quarters, and a new five MLD sewage treatment plant. 

Further, an upcoming Kendriya Vidyalaya building and upgraded residential capacity are part of a broader plan to decongest the campus and align with sustainable development goals.

With most projects slated for completion by 2026, NIT-R is expected to consolidate its position as a leading educational and research hub in eastern India while the city takes leaps in modernisation and quality of living.