With a July beginning, institute looks to raise Rs 100 crore to upgrade
academic facilities
Having committed to implement the government-imposed 27
per cent reservations for OBC from July 2007, the Indian Institute of
Technology Bombay is looking at the corporate sector to raise over Rs 100
crore in the next two years to help strengthen its academic infrastructure.
And so far, India Inc hasn’t disappointed.
Among those who are doing their bit are Naushad Forbes, who has donated Rs 1
crore for IIT’s newly-established Energy Systems Engineering department;
Rahul Bajaj, who has promised Rs 5 crore to support innovation activities
through the formation of a proposed “Technology & Innovation Centre” and
Sunil Mittal, who has pledged a million dollars (Rs 4.42 cr) for promoting
communication-related activities in the department of electrical
engineering.
“We have a challenging task ahead of us since we need to enhance the
academic infrastructure, hostel accommodation and most importantly increase
the faculty strength in a relatively short period,” said IITB Director Ashok
Misra at the institute’s 48th Foundation Day celebrations on Tuesday.
Admitting he was concerned about the various upgrades that needed to be in
place quickly, Misra said IITB will implement the 27 per cent reservation
from July 2007 in increments of nine per cent for three years.
Currently, IITB has over 5,300 students with the number of graduates per
year increasing to over 1,200. Once quotas are fully implemented, IITB will
see an increase of 54 per cent in the overall strength. “This is because we
have to make sure there is no decrease in the number of general category
students. And for this, the institute needs enhancements to keep up with the
planned expansion,” said Misra.
There are plans to construct a bio-school building, a new lecture hall
complex, a computer centre or the computer science and engineering building
and a nano-electronics building. Also, hostels for students, project staff
and married research scholars have to be built, added Misra.
IITB also also plans to construct a new building for the Technology and
Innovation Centre which will house the Society for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship, Industrial Research and Consultancy Centre and a
Nanotechnology Centre. “The Gymkhana Project which consists of an
Olympic-size swimming pool, an indoor stadium and a gymnasium is being
implemented on a fast-track basis,” emphasised Misra.
Will it be able to pull it off? Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of the IITB Board of
Governors, said: “I am confident IITB will sail through this major expansion
and facility building without affecting the level of excellence.”
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