Bhubaneswar: Projects from Odisha have received major recognition at the 17th Vishwakarma Awards organised by the Construction Industry Development Council at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
A total of 17 projects were honoured across categories, including 10 entries submitted by the government of Odisha. Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari attended the event as the chief guest and highlighted the importance of innovation in the construction sector. He stressed the need for improved efficiency in preparing DPRs, especially in road and building infrastructure.
From the state’s Works Department, three projects – Lokayukta Bhawan, the Maternal and Child Hospital in Jajpur, and the Cancer Hospital in Balangir – received awards. Chief Engineer Manoj Mahanand accepted the honours.
The Water Resources Department secured awards for five projects, including the Gangadhar Meher Project, Purunagad Mega Lift Project, Bhanjanagar Dam, Mahabarida Anicut and Lower Suktel Project. Engineer-in-Chief Lingaraj Goud received the awards on behalf of the department.
In the Sports Department category, Dhirendra Kumar Pattnaik was honoured for two facilities at Kalinga Stadium – the Shuttle Hall and the Aquatic Building.
Officials from the State Police Housing Corporation, including Chief Engineer Narmada Behera and Chief Construction Engineer Srikant Samal, received recognition for the modern hostel building at Gopabandhu Administrative Academy.
Other award-winning projects included the IIM Sambalpur campus, the AIIMS Bhubaneswar facility, the Reserve Bank of India’s new data centre in Bhubaneswar, and a national highway project in Koraput.
During the event, a book on lean construction techniques authored by former Engineer-in-Chief Manoranjan Mishra was unveiled. Renowned engineer Ashok Basa and architect Taraprasad Dhal were also honoured for their contributions to the construction sector.
Award-winning projects from Odisha were showcased at the venue and drew appreciation from attendees.
