NIT Calicut Designated as India's First Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design

Content Curator

In a groundbreaking achievement, NIT Calicut is officially designated as the inaugural Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Urban Planning and Design by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

NIT Calicut Designated as Indias First Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design

New Delhi: A significant achievement for the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NITC), as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has officially recognized the institute as the inaugural Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Urban Planning and Design in the country.

The institute earned this recognition by presenting a comprehensive proposal led by the Department of Architecture and Planning (DAP). NIT Calicut Ranking has consistently demonstrated excellence by securing the second position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the last three consecutive years.

In the Union budget 2022-23, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs allocated an endowment fund of INR 250 crores for each institution selected as a Centre of Excellence (CoE). The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) conducted thorough processes to identify eligible academic institutions, shortlisting five of them for this prestigious recognition.

Envisioned as a platform for multi and transdisciplinary learning and research, the Centre of Excellence at NIT Calicut seeks to boost capacity building, consultancy, and innovation in Urban Planning and Design. The objective is to play a pivotal role in shaping urban areas with enhanced quality of life, aesthetics, and economic opportunities, acting as catalysts for national growth.

NITC Faculty Director Prof Prasad Krishna expressed that this marks a rewarding period for the institute, continuously pursuing excellence in diverse scientific and technology-driven initiatives.

Under the guidance of Prof. P P Anilkumar from the Department of Architecture and Planning at NITC, the Centre of Excellence at NIT Calicut is set to take shape.

The establishment of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) offers the institute a platform to innovate and deliver context-based, intelligent, and sustainable solutions to diverse urban development challenges.

Prof. P P Anilkumar, the project's Team Leader, highlighted the opportunity to provide cutting-edge training to various urban planning professionals across South Indian states, especially urban local bodies and other institutions.

He further highlighted that this initiative positions the institute to play a pivotal role in shaping national-level policies on urban development—an impressive accomplishment for an urban planning department established just eight years ago.