'PM to lay foundation stone for Space Institute'

Thiruvananthapuram, May 31: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone for the proposed Indian Institute of Space Technology to be set up here by the Indian Space Research Organisation to train techies.

Briefing newspersons here after a meeting of the State Cabinet, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said during his recent visit to Delhi, the Prime Minister assured him that he would lay the foundation stone for the institute.

The construction work for the project would begin this year itself.

According to sources, the proposed institute would offer graduate and post-graduate courses in space programmes, technologies and related areas.

The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister also assured the state on starting work on the Indian Institute of Science Education in one year.

The institute would be set up in the state capital.

UNI