IIT off-campus centre in Palakkad

With the proposal for setting up an IIT off-campus centre in Palakkad hanging fire, the State Government is learnt to be actively lobbying for a centre of the Indian Institute of Science and Research or the Indian Institute of Information Technology in its place.
Recently, an IIT was sanctioned for Andhra Pradesh and the hope for an IIT off-campus centre at Palakkad was dashed with Union Minister for Human Resource Arjun Singh stating that the Government had no plan to set up IIT off-campus centres.
The State Government has offered to hand over 250 acres of land and provides infrastructure facilities to the IIT. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan made an on-the-spot inspection of the proposed land behind Fluid Control Research Institute (FCRI) and Instrumentation Limited at Kanjikode on December 11. He also visited the FCRI, which offered its facilities to start classes for the IIT till the new infrastructure facilities were set up.
The FCRI is the first of its kind institution in South East Asia. It can provide facilities in various engineering branches such as fluid engineering, instrumentation, flow engineering, etc. It has advanced study laboratories and technology libraries, besides a modern prototype workshop.
The Chief Minister, during his visit, said that 300 acres of land was readily available with the Government and more land could be provided if required.
The Revenue Department officials also examined two other pieces of land, one at the Kinfra Park and the other in the new industrial development area under the Industries Department in Kanjikode industrial area.
There is also a proposal to set up an IT park on the 100-acres of land that the Indian Telephone Industry has in its possession on the National Highway, near Yakkara.
Palakkad has a number of advantages when it comes to the setting up of a national science research or information technology institution.
The Kanjikode-Pudussery-Walayar industrial belt is the second biggest industrial area in the State. It is very close to the Coimbatore-Tirupur industrial belt. Coimbatore is emerging as a major IT corridor as many IT parks are under construction there. An engineering park of L&T is coming up at Coimbatore.
Palakkad is also having a number of premier Central public sector institutions like Indian Telephone Industry, Instrumentations Limited, FCRI, etc. Its proximity to the airports at Coimbatore, Nedumbassery and Karipur is an added advantage. Moreover, it is well-connected by rail and road links.
Courtesy: - The Hindu