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Durg, September 27, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today virtually laid the foundation stone for Phase 2 expansion of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Bhilai.
The Prime Minister virtually laid the foundation stone for various infrastructure development projects at eight Indian Institutes of Technology across the country, including the Phase 2 project at IIT Bhilai, during a ceremony held in Jharsuguda, Odisha.
Further, Phase 2 projects at seven other IITs, including IIT Patna, IIT Indore, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Tirupati, IIT Palakkad, IIT Dharwad, and IIT Jammu, were inaugurated.
With the laying of the foundation stone for Phase 2 expansion, IIT Bhilai is moving towards the next phase of infrastructure development. On May 29, 2025, the Government of India approved Rs 2,257.55 crore for Phase 2, of which Rs 1,092 crore is for campus construction. The campus will expand the built-up area by an additional 151,343 square meters. This will pave the way for the addition of new engineering and science departments, state-of-the-art laboratories, ICT-enabled lecture halls, and equipment and prototyping facilities.
Buildings and facilities within Phase 2 include expansion of hostels, mess halls, indoor sports complexes, open-air theaters, canteens, cricket, football, and hockey grounds, tennis courts, residential buildings, a health center, and a shopping complex.
The strength of students will also increase from 1,500 to 3,000. One of the major developments in Phase 2 will be the establishment of a research park on the campus at a cost of Rs 96 crore, the first in the state of Chhattisgarh. The research park aims to significantly leverage academic-industry collaboration and create an ecosystem for cutting-edge technology development. The project is targeted for completion by October 2028.
Established in 2016, IIT Bhilai was sanctioned Rs 1,090.17 crore by the Government of India for Phase 2 construction. Under this phase, the IIT Bhilai campus was established in Kutelbhata, Durg district, with a built-up area of 134,450 square meters. IIT Bhilai developed a smart, student-centric campus designed for academic rigor, personal growth, and a sustainable lifestyle.
The institute was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister on February 20, 2024. The IIT Bhilai campus integrates eco-friendly design with all modern amenities, such as smart building systems and a fully Wi-Fi-enabled campus.
The campus was designed with a vision to inspire future generations to appreciate the joy of living in harmony with nature and to motivate young graduates to work towards environmental sustainability as well as advancement in technology.
Keeping environmental sensitivity in mind, the master plan for IIT Bhilai has been prepared with care for existing natural resources, retaining a majority of trees and water bodies.
IIT Bhilai’s master plan has received several exemplary performance awards, including the highest GRIHA award with a five-star rating in the Large Development (LD) segment. IIT Bhilai has also won several other awards, including the GRIHA LD rating and the NSCI Safety Award 2021 for Passive Architecture Design and Energy Management. Inspired by Gond tribal art, the entrance corridors feature culturally rooted installations that celebrate Chhattisgarh’s heritage.
IIT Bhilai currently leads over 300 national and international projects worth approximately Rs 185 crore and has filed 30 patents. IIT Bhilai also hosts the IIT Bhilai Innovation and Technology Foundation (IBITF), a Section 8 company established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS) of the Department of Science and Technology.
In recognition of its outstanding work, IBITF was recently designated as a Category A Hub under the theme “Financial Sector Technologies (FinTech) – Empowering Marginalized Communities through Technology-Driven Innovation.” One of IIT Bhilai’s most notable initiatives is the Vidya Samiksha Kendra, Chhattisgarh, a centralized, real-time digital monitoring system for schools, teachers, students, and delivery systems across the state.
By standardizing and authenticating student and textbook data, the platform identified and eliminated 1 million missing student records, resulting in savings of 6 million textbooks worth Rs 40 crore. Furthermore, in its commitment to uplifting tribal communities through deep technology solutions, IIT Bhilai has launched a total of 54 tribal development projects across the country, with a total outlay of Rs 19 crore. Currently, IIT Bhilai has 1,525 students enrolled in B.Tech, M.Tech, M.Sc, and Ph.D. programs. With the completion of Phase-2 development, the Institute will expand its scope and role not only in its teaching and research development verticals but also as a key player in collaborative projects and promoting technologically assisted development of the State.
The Prime Minister’s foundation stone laying ceremony today was broadcast live from the Nalanda Lecture Hall, IIT Bhilai campus.
Chhattisgarh’s Minister for Skill Development, Technical Education and Employment, and Scheduled Caste Development, Guru Khushwant Saheb, attended the ceremony and in his brief address, said that it is a matter of pride for Chhattisgarh and the entire country that the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone for various projects at eight IITs.
He stated that technical education will expand in the state, along with the country, which will promote innovation. The Chhattisgarh government is prioritizing technical knowledge in the state and taking initiatives to expand it. The completion of Phase 2 of the project at IIT Bhilai will increase the number of research students there. He extended his congratulations and best wishes to everyone on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony.
IIT Bhilai Director Professor Dr. Rajiv Prakash, elaborated on the IIT’s achievements.
A large number of subject matter experts, professors, dignitaries, and students were present on the occasion.
