Kolkata Community Portal || Kolkata Community Portal - News, Reviews, Comments & Discussion

Bengal Engineering and Science University To Receive Rs 70 Cr For Upgrade

By pardeep3dec, Section Education
Posted on Sat Oct 06, 2007 at 01:22:27 AM EST

The Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu) is all set to receive Rs 70 crore this fiscal from the Centre as part of the Eleventh Five Year Plan. Under the plan, the university will get a total Rs 519 crore over five years. It has already drawn up an elaborate blueprint on how to spend the amount on campus development.

New Facilities For Automobile Engineering, Robotics & Laboratories On The Anvil

On top of the agenda is the development of a centre for excellence in automobile engineering in association with Windsor University. Besu had signed an MoU with the university last year. A part of the sum will be spent on setting up a laboratory and purchase equipment. Next in line is a school of metatronics and robotics that will host workshops and have state-of-the-art laboratories. Also on the anvil is a school of occupational health and engineering. The last phase of campus development includes a school of disaster mitigation engineering. "We are expecting the amount to be released by March next year. It will be sufficient to set up laboratories and workshops for all the centres," said Besu vice-chancellor N R Banerjea.

Two eight-storey buildings will come up on the campus, at an approximate cost of around Rs 6 crore each. "In the first phase, we will construct new departments, classrooms and rooms for the faculty. Construction of residential areas and hostels will be taken up in the second phase. The Centre will pay Besu Rs 519 crore, as recommended by Anandkrishnan Committee, for upgrading the university to an Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (IIEST). We have received Rs 10 crore," added Banerjea.

The university had earlier identified two additional plots for expanding the campus. One is a 60-acre plot in Howrah, while the other is a 40-acre plot near the existing campus. The second plot, known as Swarnomoyee Trust, belonged to Rani Rashmoni. The two plots are together estimated to cost Rs 81 crore.

"We have requested the state to buy both the properties and hand these over to us. The Indian Institute of Science Engineering and Research, which is a central institute, has already received 200 acres near Kalyani. If Besu is upgraded to IISER, then it will be of great help. We can pay a token amount of Re 1," he added. The matter has been discussed with finance minister Asim Dasgupta. "We are waiting for the state's decision," Banerjea said.

Source: The Times of India, 6th oct,2007

< Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan - Centre To Chip In More For Education Scheme | Google faces hacker threat, Govt Says Search Engine, Email And Photo-Sharing Software Vulnerable >