THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
MARCH 10, 2026
Advocating the
creation of well-planned “University Townships” linked to emerging economic and
industrial zones, Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing &
Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, said such integrated
academic hubs could significantly strengthen collaboration between higher
education institutions and industry while fostering innovation-led regional
growth.
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 Northern 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.
