Education Minister Pradhan Inaugurates Sports Complex, Kendriya Vidyalaya At NIT Rourkela

The Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, on Saturday, inaugurated key infrastructure projects at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, marking a significant milestone in the Institute’s growth. The event included the opening of an Indoor Sports Complex and a 1,000-seater open-air theatre, along with the foundation stone laying for three major projects.

Major projects launched and inaugurated included the Civil Engineering Department Building (Rs 91.18 crore), a New Institute Guest House (Rs 33.51 crore), and the MCL Hall of Residence (500-Capacity Girls’ Hostel, Rs 55.35 crore). The construction site of the permanent Kendriya Vidyalaya at NIT Rourkela was also inaugurated.

The newly inaugurated Indoor Sports Complex, costing

Rs 35 crore, is part of the Student Activity Centre (SAC) and aims to enhance sports, fitness, and student development. The complex, built to international standards, includes a multipurpose hall with badminton, lawn tennis, and volleyball courts, yoga, dance, music, and drama halls, two squash courts, basketball and badminton courts, and various recreational facilities.

The 1,000-seater open-air theatre, constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore, is a key feature of the Sports Complex, intended to host state and national-level sports and cultural events.

Pradhan expressed his admiration for NIT Rourkela’s progress in education, research, and innovation, emphasising the role of the sports complex in fostering student excellence in sports and cultural activities.

“It is heartening to witness the remarkable progress of NIT Rourkela in advancing education, research, and innovation. The sports complex inaugurated today will help students reach new heights not only in sports, but also in creative and cultural spheres. The Institute is playing a leading role in driving technological growth in Odisha and contributing to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. NIT Rourkela is nurturing future job creators through incubating startups. Its exploratory research is addressing sustainable development and critical challenges such as climate change and energy conservation. With its vibrant alumni community around the globe, I am confident that the Institute will play a decisive role in shaping India’s economic and industrial future,” the minister stated.

Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela, welcomed the dignitaries and emphasised the Institute’s commitment to excellence in education, research, and innovation. He noted NIT Rourkela’s impressive rankings in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 and the launch of new infrastructure projects to create a world-class, student-centric ecosystem.

Prof. Pradip Sarkar, Dean of Planning and Development, discussed over Rs 800 crore worth of upcoming infrastructural projects, including an Academic Building at Bhubaneswar, residential facilities, a Kendriya Vidyalaya, and a sewage treatment plant, all aimed at enhancing NIT Rourkela’s standards.