WB extends Rs 85 cr to six engineering colleges in Gujarat

Gandhinagar, Mar 16: World Bank has cleared an aid-package of Rs 85.5 crore to enhance the quality of education in engineering and technical colleges in Gujarat, Education Minister Anandiben Patel informed the State Legislative Assembly today.

She said the six institutions (with their packages) are - L D Engineering College (Rs 30 crore) and Chandkheda Engineering College in Ahmedabad (Rs 20 crore), DDIT at Nadiad (Rs 18.5 crore), Modasa Enginnering College (Rs 15 crore), Government Polytechnic in Ahmedabad (Rs one crore) and S&SS College at Gandhi College in Surat (Rs one crore).

In a written reply to a question of Mr Jitendra Vaghela (BJP), she said the aid-package would be utilised to develop bio-medical engineering, earthquake engineering, signal processing and VLSI, nano-techniology, development of advance manufacturing system, laboratory and protoptype development system, ceentre for intelligence system and robotics, nodal centre for structural engineering solutions and geographic information system laboratory, among other subjects.

Ms Patel said, the WB aid-package comprised 80 per cent of the total project cost, with the remaining 20 per cent to be borne by the State Government. The WB aid-package includes 30 per cent grant from the Central Government and the remaining 70 per cent as an interest-free loan to be paid back after 15 years.

UNI