Utkal students protest 2nd RD campus, block NH in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: Protesting the Odisha government’s decision to set up second campus of Rama Devi Women’s University on Utkal University premises, hundreds of students of the varsity today blocked the National Highway (NH) near Vani Vihar Square here.

They also staged protest in front of the university’s main gate by burning tyres, shouting slogans and showing placards.

The agitating students demanded transfer of Higher Education Department’s secretary and vice-chancellor of Utkal University.

Similar scenes were also witnessed yesterday as the students had blocked the university’s main gate for nearly 20 minutes.

Notably, the Higher Education Department has written to Utkal University authorities to allot 30 acres of land on its premises for second campus of Rama Devi Women’s University. A four-member committee headed by Utkal University Vice Chancellor Prof. Soumendra Mohan Patnaik has been constituted to identify the required land.