Decks cleared for Arunachal’s first NIT

Itanagar: After North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Arunachal Pradesh is all set to have another high-level technical institute with the decks cleared for establishment of a National Institute of Technology (NIT) in the state.

A high-level team from NIT Durgapur, led by its Director Prof S Bhattacharya, who along with state higher and technical education director Dr Joram Begi called on Governor Gen (Rtd) JJ Singh here yesterday, informed that the institute is scheduled to start its academic session from July 2010.

Prof Bhattacharjee informed that to begin with, the institute in the state would start with civil, electrical and mechanical engineering branches based on the need of the state.

''We will deploy our faculties to help in the development of the state and it will not be same as in other NITs,'' he said, adding as per NIT norms, 50 per cent of seats should be reserved for students of the home state while the rest would be filled in on all-India merit basis.

The Director also placed the land requirement of 300 acres, along with proper Internet and other connectivity and accommodation for establishment of the institute.

Expressing happiness that the institute was coming up in the state, Gen Singh assured cooperation in all capacities, including as the Rector of Rajiv Gandhi University and Chairman of NERIST.

He urged the authorities to work on a mission mode and make possible the project within a time frame.

Meanwhile, Dr Begi informed that the Government of India had decided to set up ten new NITs during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007 to 2012) out of which one would be in Arunachal Pradesh.

The NIT Durgapur, which is the oldest NIT of the country, has been entrusted with the responsibility to work as mentor and facilitator for establishment of the proposed NIT in the state.