Odisha signs MoU with IIT Bhubaneswar to set up research centre

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar: A Centre for Management, Training & Research on Rural Roads is going to be established in the permanent campus of IIT Bhubaneswar at Argul funded by the Rural Development Department, Government of Odisha.The Centre would conduct research and training to improve the quality of rural roads.It is expected to sharpen the skills and boost the morale of the government engineers trained through the Centre.A MoU to this effect was signed between IIT Bhubaneswar and Government of Odisha in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and outgoing Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati on Monday.Director of IIT Bhubaneswar R.V.Raja Kumar and Dean (Research & Development) R.K.Panda as well as a few senior Professors represented the Institute.The MoU signing ceremony was held at the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar. This is the first time that such a Centre is going to be located in an IIT in the country.The training will be imparted to the engineers associated with the construction and maintenance of rural roads through refresher courses and workshops.The focus of the training will be on effective use of locally available and affordable materials and innovative technology.The training will include preparation of DPRs, planning & design, and waste utilization in rural roads with emphasis on quality control.The Centre will be an integral part of the School of Infrastructure at the Institute.Necessary funding for construction, maintenance, infrastructure and salary of the staff of the Centre will be provided by the State Government on a regular basis, according to an official release issued by the IIT authorities.The cost of construction of this Centre is approximately Rs.8.0 crore with 60 seater hostel facility for the training of the engineers from various engineering departments of Odisha government, according to a release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.