Bhubaneswar, 10 March (H.S.): Odisha is positioning itself as a future hub for global education by proposing the development of integrated “University Townships”, Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee said during a high-level post-budget webinar organised by the Ministry of Education (India).

The discussion followed the Union Budget 2026–27 announcement proposing five specialised university townships along major industrial and logistics corridors across the country. Speaking at the session titled “Five University Townships,” Padhee highlighted that Odisha, with its strong industrial ecosystem and business-friendly environment, is well positioned to pioneer the model.

She suggested that university townships should be developed as well-planned satellite towns near existing urban centres to ensure better connectivity, modern infrastructure and a vibrant academic ecosystem capable of attracting global researchers, faculty and students.

Padhee also emphasised building an integrated academic ecosystem with modern student housing, research facilities and strong collaboration between academia and industry. She said the townships could function as innovation clusters supporting advanced research, skill development and technology-driven entrepreneurship.

Highlighting inclusive campus infrastructure, she stressed the need for secure on-campus housing, particularly for women students, to ensure accessibility and safety.

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to education-led urban development, Padhee referred to initiatives under Vision Odisha 2036, including investments in urban mobility and infrastructure such as a ₹421-crore allocation for modern transport systems.

She said Odisha is ready to work closely with the Centre to develop these university townships into centres of excellence that promote innovation, research and regional economic growth.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda