Odisha has taken a proactive stance in supporting the Union Budget 2026-27’s vision for specialised university townships, emphasising their strategic alignment with the state’s emerging industrial and economic corridors.
Representing the state at the national Post-Budget Webinar organised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, Usha Padhee, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, presented Odisha’s comprehensive approach to developing integrated university townships. These townships would blend higher education, cutting-edge research, innovation, and planned urban development to create dynamic academic ecosystems.
The webinar, held in the backdrop of the Union Budget 2026-27’s proposal to establish five specialised university townships along major industrial and logistics corridors nationwide, provided a platform for states to share ideas on implementation. Padhee highlighted Odisha’s readiness to partner with the Central Government in this transformative initiative.
She proposed locating these university townships in alignment with key growth areas, including the BCPPER (Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region) and City Economic Zones in Western and Northern Odisha. Such placement would foster balanced regional development clusters centred around Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Koraput, strengthening ties between academia and industry.
“These townships should evolve as well-planned satellite urban centres equipped with modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art research facilities, dedicated student housing, and seamless connectivity,” Smt. Padhee stated. She stressed their potential to attract global talent and nurture a vibrant academic environment.
Drawing attention to Odisha’s expanding industrial corridors, she described university townships as ideal innovation clusters where universities, research institutions, and industries collaborate to drive advanced research, skill development, and technology-led entrepreneurship.
Padhee also prioritised inclusivity, underscoring the need for safe, accessible campus housing—especially for women students—to build an equitable and supportive academic space.
Reaffirming the state’s commitment to education-driven urban and economic progress, she expressed Odisha’s eagerness to collaborate closely with the Central Government. The goal is to transform these university townships into centres of excellence that fuel innovation, skill enhancement, and sustainable regional economic growth.
This advocacy aligns with the national push under the Union Budget 2026-27 to position university townships as engines of employability, research, and industry synergy along strategic corridors, contributing to India’s vision of a developed and knowledge-powered nation.
