Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday laid the foundation for an ambitious series of infrastructure projects worth ₹480 crore at the Central University of Odisha (CUO) in Sunabeda, Koraput, aimed at transforming the campus into a sustainable, technologically advanced, and inclusive “Net Zero Campus.”
The planned infrastructure overhaul includes state-of-the-art multi-storey academic blocks, 10 modern hostels, a grand auditorium, gymnasium, indoor sports complex, shopping facilities, a fully equipped health centre, and an international guest house. All facilities have been designed following green building principles, renewable energy integration, and climate-resilient architecture to minimize the campus’s carbon footprint while improving the living and learning experience for students and faculty.
Pradhan also inaugurated recently completed facilities at the university, developed at a cost of around ₹130 crore. These include a new academic building, health centre, vice-chancellor’s residence, officers’ quarters, and staff housing.
A significant highlight of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among six prominent institutions — CUO Koraput, IIT Bhubaneswar, NIT Rourkela, IIM Sambalpur, IISER Berhampur, and the Shri Sadashiva Campus of the Central Sanskrit University in Puri. The minister said this collaboration would foster inter-institutional learning, allowing students and faculty to participate in joint academic programs and exchange visits, supported under the National Education Policy’s emphasis on collaboration.
He further announced that CUO plans to launch engineering and technology courses in fields such as agriculture, bio-environmental sciences, IT, computer science, and artificial intelligence from next year to equip students from underprivileged areas with cutting-edge skills. He also reviewed ongoing activities at CUO and assured that all vacant positions would be filled soon to bolster academic growth.
The event was attended by CUO Vice-Chancellor Prof NC Panda, Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Animal Resources and Fisheries Minister Goukulananda Mullik, MPs Saptagiri Ulaka and Balabhadra Majhi, and MLAs Raghuram Machha, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Rupu Bhatra, Gouri Sankar Majhi, and Pabitra Saunta, among others.
Earlier in the day, Pradhan visited the HAL unit at Sunabeda and held a review meeting with officials. On Sunday, as part of his two-day tour of Koraput, the Union Minister will inaugurate a new Kendriya Vidyalaya in Jeypore and address a party meeting.
