Bhubaneswar: Odisha has proposed the development of “University Townships” aligned with emerging economic and industrial hubs during a national post-budget consultation organised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India following the Union Budget 2026–27 announcement on specialised academic clusters.
Representing the state at the webinar, Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, highlighted Odisha’s vision of establishing integrated university townships that bring together higher education, research, innovation and urban development.
The post-budget webinar was organised to deliberate on the Union Budget proposal to set up five specialised university townships along major industrial and logistics corridors across the country. Padhee suggested that such townships in Odisha could be strategically developed in emerging growth centres such as the BCPPER region and City Economic Zones in western and northern parts of the state.
She said the proposed clusters could be anchored around key urban centres like Rourkela, Sambalpur and Koraput to promote balanced regional development and stronger collaboration between academia and industry.
Padhee emphasised that the university 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 the state’s expanding industrial corridors, she said such townships could function as innovation clusters where universities, research institutions and industries work together to promote advanced research, skill development and technology-driven entrepreneurship.
She also stressed the need for safe and accessible campus housing, particularly for women students, to ensure an inclusive academic environment.
Reaffirming the state’s commitment to education-led urban development, Padhee said Odisha is ready to work closely with the Centre to develop these university townships into centres of excellence that drive innovation and regional economic growth.
