Expert panel may choose Mysuru for IIT, claims MP

If Mysuru and Kodagu MP Prathap Simha’s words are any indication, the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the State may be set up in Mysuru.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Simha, who accompanied the three-member team of the Site Selection Committee to the proposed sites, said, “It appears that the experts were satisfied with the reasons given by the district administration. Deputy Commissioner C Shikha delved into the conducive atmosphere that the city offers, during her power-point presentation at her office.”

The meeting at the DC office was followed by a site visit to Kadakola on the Mysuru-Nanjangud Road, where 1,200 acres of land is readily available. Barring a stretch of road that divides the land to an extent, the vast expanse is ideal to set up the institute.

Simha said that as per the norms, the built-up area will be not less than 5,000 square feet, the staff quarters and student hostel facilities should be created in its precincts.

Another piece of land is available within the city and the district administration is pinning hopes on any of the two places being finalised to tilt the balance in favour of Mysuru.

The team also inspected the building of Central Silk Board at Thandavapura, identified by the district administration to start the institute on a temporary basis, if Mysuru bags it.

One of the team members was overwhelmed with the facilities available at the Thandavapura building, again positive vibes, Simha said.

Prof K S Rangappa, Vice-chancellor of the University of Mysore, has come forward to lend the under-construction Pareeksha Bhavan building at Manasagangotri, the varsity’s PG campus, to house the IIT temporarily, said Simha.

Answering queries, Simha said, “The suitable location in Mysuru is expected to be finalised after a meeting with district incharge Minister Srinivas Prasad on Friday.”

Simha termed baseless reports that the city may lose IIT for want of one acre of land. The district administration had earlier identified 499 acres and 13 guntas.
 
Owing to the change in norms, bigger plots were identified, said the MP.

Earlier, Shikha explained to the experts that the site identified in Kadakola was better connected by road, rail and also air.

The National Highway-212 that passes by Kadakola is being converted into four-lane, while the nearest railway station, Thandavapura, is two km away. The Mysore Airport at Mandakalli is at a distance of six km, while Mysuru city is 17.5 km away. Besides, IT giants like Infosys and Wipro have set up their facilities in Mysuru, followed by emerging bio-technology industries. Mysuru is already an education hub, with several universities.

The committee is led by R Subramanian, additional secretary (technical education), Ministry of Human Resources Development, New Delhi. It includes Sudhir L Jain, director of IIT Gandhinagar and Ravi Kant Soni, chief engineer of the Central Public Works Department, Bengaluru.

R Dhruvanarayana, Chamarajanagar MP and Bharat Lal Meena, principal secretary to the State Higher Education department, accompanied the team. The team is expected to inspect sites proposed for the IIT in Dharwad and Raichur on Friday.