Koraput, July 6: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several major projects at the Central University of Odisha (CUO) in Koraput on the occasion of the auspicious Bahuda Yatra.
The Minister informed that the Government of India has allocated nearly ₹750 crore for the development of permanent infrastructure at CUO, aiming to transform it into a hub of quality higher education and innovation in southern Odisha.
Foundation stones were laid for projects worth ₹480 crore, including a multidisciplinary academic building, hostels, auditorium, sports complex, cafeteria, health center, and guest house. Pradhan also inaugurated newly completed facilities such as the academic block, Vice Chancellor's residence, and staff quarters.
In a significant step toward academic collaboration, six premier centrally funded higher education institutions in Odisha, including IIT Bhubaneswar, NIT Rourkela, IIM Sambalpur, IISER Berhampur, Shri Sadashiva Campus (Central Sanskrit University), and CUO Koraput, signed a historic MoU to strengthen partnerships under the framework of National Education Policy 2020. The initiative will enable multi-disciplinary education, research collaboration, joint degree programs, credit transfers, and promotion of Indian knowledge systems.
Pradhan suggested launching UG and PG programs in agriculture, logistics, and related sectors that align with the local economy and resources of Koraput, including farming, horticulture, dairy, and mineral industries.
He also recommended starting diploma programs in emerging areas such as AI, machine learning, aviation maintenance, entrepreneurship, and health sciences from next year.
