UP’s First Forestry University in Gorakhpur: CM Yogi to Lay Foundation
Uttar Pradesh’s push to establish itself as a national hub for specialized environmental education, forestry research, and sustainable horticulture is moving rapidly toward execution in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Full-scale ground preparations have commenced in the Bhariwaisi forest area of Campierganj, Gorakhpur, for the foundation stone laying (Bhoomi Pujan) ceremony of the state’s first—and North India’s maiden—Uttar Pradesh Forestry and Horticulture University. Spread across 123 to 124 acres (approximately 50 hectares) and sanctioned at an estimated project cost of ₹491 crore, the landmark institution is expected to have its foundation stone laid by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, November 19, 2026, pending formal protocol confirmation from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Originally scheduled for November 2, the ceremonial groundbreaking had to be deferred due to unavoidable administrative reasons. Now, district officials and Forest Department teams have swung back into round-the-clock action across Campierganj—situated along the Gorakhpur–Sonauli highway corridor near the Indo-Nepal border—turning the sprawling site into a hive of construction and logistical activity ahead of next week’s anticipated VIP visit.
German Hangar for 5,000 Attendees and Land Leveling Underway in Bhariwaisi
At the proposed campus site in Bhariwaisi, heavy earthmoving equipment and backhoe loaders are actively leveling the terrain to prepare the ceremonial grounds and clear approach pathways. Simultaneously, workers are racing to erect the structural framework of a massive German hangar tent designed to accommodate approximately 5,000 attendees, ensuring uninterrupted proceedings regardless of late-autumn weather conditions.
Alongside the main public seating arena, dedicated zones are being demarcated for the primary ceremonial dais where the Chief Minister will perform the Bhoomi Pujan rituals, along with separate enclosures for visiting dignitaries, cabinet ministers, and local public representatives. Confirming the brisk pace of groundwork, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shubham Singh stated that full-scale arrangements are underway for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to lay the university’s foundation stone, with November 19 earmarked as the probable date for the event.
Why the ₹491-Crore University Is a Game-Changer for Purvanchal and Farmers
Backed by the Uttar Pradesh Forestry and Horticulture University Act, 2026 (promulgated on August 17, 2026, following state cabinet approval in April), the upcoming institution will elevate Gorakhpur into one of the select districts in Uttar Pradesh boasting five universities. Targeted for completion within a two-year construction window, the campus—roughly 44 hectares of which will be preserved as lush green cover—will offer specialized undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral (PhD) programs in forestry sciences, wildlife conservation, climate change mitigation, agroforestry, and commercial horticulture.
Planned infrastructure includes dedicated academic and administrative blocks, modern laboratories, hostel facilities for 895 students, and 401 residential units for faculty and staff. Located close to the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Campierganj, the university will not only train future forest officers and environmental scientists, but also equip farmers across Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Kushinagar, Deoria, Basti, and Azamgarh with scientific agroforestry and high-value horticulture techniques to boost rural incomes.
Divisional Rabi Farmers’ Seminar on November 18: CM Likely to Join at Gambhirnath Auditorium
In a parallel boost for Purvanchal’s agrarian community, the state Agriculture Department is organizing a mega Divisional Rabi Farmers’ Seminar on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at the Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium in Gorakhpur. Bringing together progressive farmers, agricultural scientists, and officials across the Gorakhpur, Basti, and Azamgarh divisions, the convention is also expected to be graced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Ahead of the seminar, the Divisional Joint Director of Agriculture chaired a comprehensive coordination meeting at the Chargawan regional office on Thursday, assigning specific departmental responsibilities to ensure seamless execution. During the day-long workshop, farmers will receive hands-on guidance on high-yield Rabi crop varieties, balanced fertilizer usage, micro-irrigation, and government subsidies—making mid-November a milestone week for both agricultural empowerment and green higher education in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
