Phase B Project to Add AI and Biotech Labs, 500 Seats, Fostering Innovation Hubs in Naxal-Prone Durg District
Published on: September 29, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Bhilai, India
In a virtual ceremony on September 29, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the foundation stone for IIT Bhilai’s Phase B expansion, injecting ₹1,200 crore to transform the institute into a premier research powerhouse in central India. Spanning 100 additional acres in Durg’s Pendri campus, the upgrade will house cutting-edge facilities for AI, machine learning, sustainable energy, and bioinformatics, alongside a 500-seat boost to reach 2,200 students by 2029.
Aligned with NEP 2020, the project emphasizes interdisciplinary programs and industry tie-ups with giants like Tata Steel and JSW Group, aiming to spawn 150 startups via an expanded Atal Incubation Centre.
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Modi’s keynote praised Chhattisgarh’s “untapped innovation potential,” linking the initiative to the state’s mineral resources for green tech R&D, and announced 20,000 scholarships for SC/ST students from remote areas. Local stakeholders project 6,000 jobs and a ₹5,000 crore economic ripple by 2030, countering underdevelopment in Maoist-shadowed regions.
However, student unions highlighted Phase A delays due to land acquisition hurdles, demanding faster execution. Attended virtually by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and CM Sai, the event underscores IIT Bhilai’s role in bridging Chhattisgarh’s urban-rural tech divide, positioning it as a rival to IITs in Bhubaneswar and Kanpur.
