Odisha has identified three potential locations for university townships as announced in the Union Budget 2026–27.
University townships are educational complexes that include multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres, and residential campuses. This standalone centres would drive research and excellence in education.
According to the criteria, the proposed complexes should be near industrial and logistics corridors where a contiguous parcel of 1000 acres for each is available. The State government has zeroed in on Kamakhyanagar, Puri-Balukhanda and Jatni or Tangi as potential locations.
University Townships will be establed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each township would be developed as an integrated academic, research, skilling and residential ecosystem, managed through a Special Purpose vehicle (SPV), with shared infrastructure for multiple institutions.
The State mulls an industry-led township which would ensure a University Township led by industry to foster an academic ecosystem with strong linkages between education, research, skills, and industry. Another potential concept of a township will be focus on mining and allied disciplines, considering the State’s rich mineral resources.
Through the townships, emphasis will be on academics, research, incubation, innovation and Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to promote industry-oriented knowledge creation.
The township may have eight greenfield universities, each on 25 acres, along with shared infrastructure within the township.
Besides, the State Higher Education Department will also explore the possibility of establishing the proposed University Township in and around Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Koraput, as well as at other suitable locations in the State, depending on the availability of suitable land, in coordination with the concerned department and district administrations.
Published – August 23, 2026 05:25 am IST
