Odisha signs MoUs with IIT Kharagpur, SPA Bhopal to conserve 294 heritage sites
Synopsis
Odisha has formalised institutional partnerships with IIT Kharagpur and SPA Bhopal to bring LiDAR, GIS, and 3D documentation to the conservation of nearly 294 monuments — a move that could set a replicable model for tech-driven heritage preservation across India's archaeology-rich states.
Key Takeaways
The Odisha State Archaeology Department signed non-financial MoUs with IIT Kharagpur and SPA Bhopal in Bhubaneswar on 23 May 2025 .
Technologies including LiDAR , 3D documentation , GIS , and remote sensing will be used for monument preservation.
Around 82 ASI monuments and nearly 212 state-managed monuments — approximately 294 structures — will benefit.
10 Odisha students will receive heritage conservation internships at IIT Kharagpur under NEP 2020 .
The official logo of the Odisha State Archaeology Department was unveiled at the event.
The Odisha State Archaeology Department has signed non-financial Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with IIT Kharagpur and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal, at a special ceremony in Bhubaneswar on 23 May 2025, marking a significant institutional push to deploy modern science in the preservation of the state's ancient monuments and temples. The partnerships are non-financial in nature and aim to integrate cutting-edge technology with heritage conservation across Odisha.
What the IIT Kharagpur Partnership Covers
Under the agreement with IIT Kharagpur, advanced tools including LiDAR scanning, 3D documentation, structural analysis, digital mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and remote sensing will be deployed for the preservation and monitoring of heritage structures. The collaboration will additionally focus on research, innovation, and interdisciplinary knowledge integration in the conservation domain, according to an official statement from the department.
Role of SPA Bhopal in the Initiative
The MoU with SPA Bhopal is designed to support heritage planning and conservation architecture, museum and exhibition design, architectural documentation, technical advisory services, and capacity-building programmes. Together, the two institutions bring complementary strengths — engineering precision from IIT Kharagpur and architectural expertise from SPA Bhopal — to what officials describe as a unified conservation framework.
Scale of Impact: 294 Monuments in Focus
Odisha Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the initiative would have a transformative effect on the state's heritage assets. He noted that approximately 82 monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and nearly 212 monuments under the Odisha State Archaeology Department — a combined total of around 294 structures — stand to benefit from the partnerships.
'Our heritage and architecture have given Odisha a unique recognition at the national and international levels. It is our responsibility to preserve these historic sites and make future generations aware of their significance. Through this collaboration, modern technologies will be used for scientific conservation, digital documentation and sustainable development of heritage sites,' Minister Suraj said at the event.
Student Internships and Policy Linkage
In a notable addition, 10 students from Odisha will receive internship opportunities at IIT Kharagpur in heritage and architectural conservation, under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The move signals an intent to build a pipeline of trained conservation professionals within the state. The official logo of the Odisha State Archaeology Department was also unveiled during the programme.
Why This Matters for Odisha's Heritage
Odisha is home to some of India's most architecturally significant temple complexes, including those at Puri, Konark, and Bhubaneswar. Many of these structures face threats from weathering, seismic activity, and inadequate documentation. This collaboration represents one of the more structured attempts by a state archaeology department to systematically apply geospatial and engineering tools to monument preservation — an approach that heritage bodies across India have advocated but few states have formalised through institutional agreements. The partnerships are expected to set a replicable model for other states with dense archaeological inventories.
Point of View
But their value depends on sustained field access and data-sharing protocols that non-financial MoUs do not always guarantee. The inclusion of NEP-linked internships is a smart structural move, but 10 seats is a modest start for a state with nearly 300 monuments in need of attention. The real test will be whether digitised documentation translates into active conservation interventions — or remains an archival exercise.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What MoUs has the Odisha State Archaeology Department signed?
The Odisha State Archaeology Department signed non-financial MoUs with IIT Kharagpur and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal, on 23 May 2025 in Bhubaneswar. The agreements focus on conservation, documentation, and development of the state's heritage monuments using modern technology.
Which monuments will benefit from the IIT Kharagpur and SPA Bhopal partnerships?
Approximately 82 monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India and nearly 212 monuments managed by the Odisha State Archaeology Department — around 294 structures in total — are expected to benefit from the initiative, according to Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
What technologies will IIT Kharagpur deploy for Odisha's heritage conservation?
IIT Kharagpur will utilise LiDAR scanning, 3D documentation, structural analysis, digital mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and scientific conservation methodologies for the preservation and monitoring of Odisha's heritage sites.
What role will SPA Bhopal play in the partnership?
SPA Bhopal will support heritage planning and conservation architecture, museum and exhibition design, architectural documentation, technical advisory services, and capacity-building programmes for the Odisha State Archaeology Department.
Will students benefit from the IIT Kharagpur MoU?
Yes. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework, 10 students from Odisha will receive internship opportunities at IIT Kharagpur in the field of heritage and architectural conservation, as announced during the Bhubaneswar event.
