Gujarat to set up IITRAM University
The Gujarat state assembly, has passed the Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management (IITRAM) Bill-2012. The bill, the first to be passed by the assembly this year, was tabled by the state government and passed by a majority. The opposition Congress opposed the bill on the ground that it eliminated the role of the Governor who was the Chancellor of the state’s universities.
The bill aims to set up a university (to be known as Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management) on the land of a closed mill in Maninagar area of Ahmedabad city. The bill was tabled by state education minister Ramanlal Vora.
Participating in the discussion on the bill, leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil criticized its provisions which, he said, eliminated the role of the Governor despite the fact that he is the Chancellor of all the universities of the state. Gohil further said that the bill had not been drafted as per UGC norms for setting up a university. Incidentally, many new universities set up by the state government through legislation for the purpose don’t have the Governor as their Chancellor.
It is expected that the new institute will be established with a cost of Rs 500 crores. It will offer various course of technology, management, engineering, infrastructure and allied areas.
IITRAM will have a total capacity of about 2,000 students. Out of these, 50 per cent will be undergraduate students. The remaining students will be from post-graduation, doctoral and sponsored courses in the area of engineering and management. It is also expected that the university will start functioning in next five years.
(source NA)
