Jodhpur: Finally, the construction of IIT-Jodhpur campus begins today i.e. on Tuesday April 16, 2013. The Union human resources minister M M Pallam Raju will lay the setting stone of the main building. The HRD minister will be accompanied by Union cultural minister and MP from Jodhpur Chandresh Kumari and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. It is anticipated that the first phase of the construction will be completed by the year 2016.
The IIT-J campus will be constructed on the Jodhpur-Nagaur highway covering an area of 842 acres. As per sources, apart from the boundary wall, the construction work is yet to begin on the campus. According to a study on the development of the upcoming eight IITs by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, the pace of work has been critical on the IIT-J campus. Sources also added all the IITs, running from temporary facilities, have been allotted the time till 2013, to shift to their new campuses.
Explaining the delay in the construction of delay of the IIT-J, Goverdhan Mehta, chairman of the board of governor, has said that they are very ambitious regarding this campus and have incorporated numerous state-of-the-art and unique features and ideas in its master plan, which has caused a little delay.
Mr Mehta said that the IIT will be an educational retreat for the Sun City and will be developed like a living laboratory, where there will be an amalgamation of traditions with technology in order to produce sustainable architecture. He added that the campus of IIT-J will provide an exclusive learning atmosphere for all-inclusive growth of all stakeholders.
He added that the goal is to create a township, where energy and water wastage will be zero. Renewable energy shall be a vital part of the buildings. Moreover, a solar park across 180 acres has also been planned, which will house a science city. In context to the master plan, he said that the IIT-J targets to harness the potential of technological advances and state-of-the-art technology together with traditional perceptions in developmental and design practices to cater to the environmental and other challenges.
