IIT Kgp to start flyover construction by this year

Kharagpur, Aug 18 (UNI) IIT-Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) today announced to start construction work of Rs 24 crore flyover connecting the institute with the railway station as well as the highways by this year.

Talking to mediapersons here, IIT-KGP director Damodar Acharya said the funds had already been alloted for the construction.

Prof Acharya, while giving away Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award, 2007 to CIMAP director Dr S P S Khanuja, said of the total fund allocated, the Railway Ministry had contributed 37.5 per cent and the West Bengal government too had provided the same amount.

''This time we have given the responsibility of the construction work to only one agency so as to expedite the construction work and avoid any discrepancy,'' prof Acharya said.

He said the institute had received an annual grant of Rs 100 crore from the Centre to start projects like a Steel Industry Research Centre worth Rs 20 crore, Tea Engineering Research Centre of Rs 16 crore and a Coffee Engineering Research Centre worth Rs three crore.

Besides, a Mobile Communication Research Centre worth Rs 12 crore would be constructed in collaboration with Vodafone and some other partners.

A FAB facility centre worth Rs 50 crore would be taken up by the institute with the help of Central Information and Technology Department.

Prof Acharya said the institute is also planning to increase the number of classrooms, laboratories, adding that there were plans to introduce some new courses from the next academic session.

''We have projects worth Rs 107 crore more besides the Centre's allocation. We are also trying to increase the hostel capacity upto 2,000-3,000 keeping in view the increasing number of students every year. Currently, the hostel is facing a shortage of 1,500 rooms,'' he admitted.

UNI