By Our Correspondent
ROURKELA/BHUBANESWAR:Students graduating from AIT Rourkela have the potential to employ thousands of people through their own startups. In the coming days, the institute’s research will show new directions in the field of complex problems of society like climate change or energy conservation. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the collaboration between Rourkela Steel Plant and NIT can be a powerful tool to strengthen India’s economy.
Shri Pradhan today inaugurated the newly constructed Indoor Sports Complex at a cost of Rs. 35 crore on the NIT campus. The complex has a multipurpose hall with a badminton court, an open air theatre and ancillary facilities. Similarly, the Union Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new building of the Civil Engineering Department at a cost of Rs. 91.18 crore, a 500-bed hostel at a cost of Rs. 55.35 crore, and a guest house at a cost of Rs. 33.51 crore. Shri Pradhan said that the Indoor Sports Complex dedicated to the public will help the students reach new heights not only in the field of sports but also in the creative and cultural fields. The students will benefit from the new facilities and opportunities laid by the foundation stone will spread the image of NIT Rourkela far and wide.
Shri Pradhan said that Rourkela is not just a city but is associated with the emotions of the people. It is a major pillar of industry and education in Odisha and the country. The NIT located here is ranked 13th among the top 100 engineering institutions in the country in the NIRF ranking. Research Under the prestigious PEYAAR program of the National Research Foundation (NRF), NIT Rourkela has been selected as one of the 7 hub institutions in the country. ‘Koratia Technologies’, founded by the alumnus of this institution, Devendra Pradhan and Biswajit Swain, is doing remarkable work in the field of defense. This startup, which specializes in underwater robotics, has received an investment of Rs 17 crore from MGF. The company has bagged a multi-crore order to supply indigenously developed Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (UWROVs) to the Indian Navy. This example proves that NIT Rourkela is not just an educational institution, but has become a problem-solving hub for the country.
The alumni of this educational institution are alive and NIT and Rourkela Steel Plant are the growth engines of Rourkela. Modern subjects like AI and robotics have been added to this educational institution. It is hoped that NIT Rourkela will become a major center of knowledge-based economy in the country in the coming days. On the other hand, about 5 million tons of steel is being produced in the Rourkela Steel Plant. The central government has set a target to increase this to 9.8 million tons by 2030. This will entail an investment of about 35 to 40 thousand crore rupees, which will increase employment opportunities.
When Odisha, which was formed as a separate province in 1936, completes its centenary in 2036, and when India celebrates its centenary of independence in 2047, the role of NIT Rourkela and the Rourkela Steel Plant will be decisive.
On this occasion, Shri Pradhan visited the under-construction Kendriya Vidyalaya on the NIT campus and played badminton with the students at the new sports complex. The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of Odisha Assembly Shri Bhavani Shankar Bhoi, Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasad Naik, Raghunathpali MLA Shri Durga Charan Tanti, Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathi.
