Odisha advocates ‘University Townships’ linked to economic zones at National Webinar
Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty): Odisha participated in a national Post-Budget Webinar organised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, where the state strongly advocated the development of “University Townships” aligned with emerging economic and industrial zones.
Representing the state, Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, highlighted Odisha’s strategic vision of creating integrated university townships that combine higher education, research, innovation and urban development.
The webinar followed the Union Budget 2026–27 announcement proposing the establishment of five specialised university townships along major industrial and logistics corridors across the country.
Padhee suggested that such townships in Odisha could be strategically located in alignment with emerging growth centres such as the BCPPER region and City Economic Zones in Western and Northen Odisha to ensure balanced regional development clusters anchored around Rourkella,Sambalpur and Koraput enabling stronger collaboration between academia and industry.
She emphasised that these townships should be developed as well-planned satellite urban centres with modern infrastructure, research facilities, student housing and strong connectivity, creating a vibrant academic ecosystem capable of attracting global talent.
Highlighting Odisha’s expanding industrial corridors, she noted that university townships can function as innovation clusters where universities, research institutions and industries work together to promote advanced research, skill development and technology-driven entrepreneurship.
Padhee also underlined the importance of safe and accessible campus housing, particularly for women students, to ensure an inclusive academic environment.
Reaffirming Odisha’s commitment to education-led urban development, she said the state is ready to work in close partnership with the Central Government to transform these university townships into centres of excellence that drive innovation and regional economic growth.
