KIIT Deemed to be University has inked an MoU with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India for improvement of road infrastructure on 18th August 2020. Prof. Sasmita Samanta, Pro-Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU and Er. Ram Prasad Panda, CGM (Tech) & RO, NHAI, Bhubaneswar Regional Office signed the agreement in the presence of Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar; Prof. Benu Gopal Mohapatra, Director, KIIT School of Civil Engineering; selected faculty members and senior officials of NHAI at a signing ceremony held at NHAI Bhubaneswar Regional Office.
The MoU is a result of the NHAI initiative to associate the technical institutions and utilize the prudence of students and faculty members for improvement of road infrastructure in the country under the umbrella of ‘Institutional Social Responsibility (ISR)’.
As per the agreement, KIIT-DU has adopted two stretches of National Highway, 74.5 km stretch from Chandikhol to Bhadrak Section on NH-5 (New NH-16) and 166 km stretch from Panikoili to Rimuli Section on NH-215 (New NH-20), for extensive periodic investigations. KIIT will give suitable suggestions for improving the efficiency of existing highway assets in areas related to continual maintenance of roads, safety aspects, removal of congestion spots, proposal for wayside amenities, riding comfort, etc for a period of five years.
Under the partnership, NHAI shall offer internships to some undergraduate/postgraduate students which will enhance their field exposure and give them first-hand experience of prevalent road construction techniques, latest trends and technologies. Further, NHAI will also support the creation of laboratory infrastructure in the area of utilizing alternative resource materials for improving the quality of road and co-brand the adopted stretch of NH with the KIIT-DU.
Among others, Prof. B. Das, Prof. D. R. Biswal and Prof. M. Mohanty of KIIT-DU and Er. R. Venkateswarlu, Project Director, NHAI (Sambalpur/Keonjhar/Balasore) were present on the occasion.