IIT Bombay announced on Wednesday, the successful completion of Project Evergreen, a fully alumni-led initiative that has significantly upgraded the institute's student housing infrastructure. Described as a landmark achievement for Indian higher education, the project raised Rs 200 crore, resulting in the construction of three state-of-the-art hostels. The new complex features 848 rooms and 1,127 beds across an area of 3,70,000 square feet, marking it as IIT Bombay's largest student housing development to date.

Former Director Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri reflected that the project stemmed from the urgent need to upgrade infrastructure, describing it as a calculated risk rooted in strong belief in the alumni community's power and commitment.  The project originated from an initial conversation among a small group of alumni volunteers and Prof. Chaudhuri, evolving into a transformative effort.

Alumni leaders Narayan Sundaresan who oversaw construction and Kirat Patel, who developed the fundraising model, recalled the encouraging early response. Patel noted that the effort started with a Rs 4-5 crore design phase backed by 26 charter donors. The initiative grew into a broad movement, attracting contributions from approximately 2,700 alumni donors spanning batches from 1962 to 2024, with donations ranging from Rs 10 crore to as little as Rs 1,000. 

Current Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare praised the accomplishment, stating that Project Evergreen illustrates the potential unlocked when alumni and institutions collaborate with belief and ambition. More than 25 corporates also partnered with IIT Bombay to advance the vision of inclusive, high-quality student housing, positioning Project Evergreen as a model for large-scale public-private collaboration in higher education.