Kumar Mangalam Birla announces ₹2,200 crore investment to expand BITS Pilani

BITS Pilani, the Aditya Birla Group-backed educational institution, will invest ₹2,200 crore to expand and strengthen its educational footprint over the next five years. Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, who is also the Chancellor of BITS Pilani, said the institution will invest ₹1,000 crore to build a new AI+ campus at Amravati. The construction of the campus has started, and it will open in August.

BITS has also earmarked another ₹1,219 crore for an infrastructure boost and a new initiative called ‘BITS Pilani Digital’. Under Project Vistaar, BITS will expand and upgrade infrastructure across its Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad campuses, Birla said after attending the convocation ceremony in Pilani.

The initiative will enhance long-term research capabilities, improve the student experience, and foster global partnerships. It includes ₹60 crore for upgrading undergraduate laboratories to world-class standards. Student intake across campuses is projected to increase from over 18,700 to approximately 26,000 by the academic year 2030–31.

Over the next five years, BITS Pilani Digital aims to launch 32 programs (including 11 degrees and 21 certificates) and reach over 100,000 learners. Learners will engage in real-world projects, gain career support, and have the option of campus immersions to build connections within the BITS community and industry, said V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani.

“The latest initiatives reflect our continued commitment to reimagining higher education in both physical and digital realms. These efforts are not just about scale but also about building a transformative ecosystem that empowers learners, nurtures innovation, and fuels inclusive growth,” said Birla.

The newly announced AI+ Campus at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, is envisioned as a next-generation innovation hub spread across 35 acres. It will offer undergraduate twinning programs, cotutelle doctoral degrees with top global institutions, and master’s programs in AI/ML, innovation, and strategy.

The development will occur in two phases — Phase 1 will support 3,000 students, focusing on core academics and student life; Phase 2 will scale capacity to 7,000, adding advanced research centres, global collaboration zones, and dedicated entrepreneurship hubs, built using sustainable, modular infrastructure for scalability and efficiency.