STORY CREDITS
Writer: Saumya Mishra
Photo: IITGN photo
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated Phase 1B infrastructure and laid the foundation stone of student hostels and staff residences of IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN) for Phase 2A construction of the Institute on February 20, 2024 via video conference.
During the programme, the Prime Minister digitally inaugurated infrastructure projects worth over Rs 13,300 crore in the Education and Skill Sector across the country. Including IITGN, these projects encompass 10 IITs, 5 IIITs, 3 IIMs, 2 IISERs, 4 NITs, 1 AICTE, 2 Skill Development Institutes, 12 Central Universities, 25 Central Schools, and 19 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.
Speaking during the occasion, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said, “In education, a foundation of strong roots ensures the strength and resilience of the branches above. Today, institutes such as the IITs and IIMs in different states are witnessing growth and expansion. I would like to congratulate the youth of the entire country on this occasion.”
Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, was the distinguished guest of honor for the event at IITGN. Addressing the audience, the Hon’ble Governor expressed his joy at being a part of this significant occasion. “Today the youth of the nation should take pride in witnessing the rapid development of the country. In the past decade, India has risen to become the world’s 5th largest economy from the 11th rank it held earlier,” he added.
Prior to this, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN, welcomed the distinguished guests at the event. He recalled the visit of Shri Narendra Modi in 2011 as the then Chief Minister where he exhorted the institute to make a campus which shall be a matter of pride and be visited by people from far and near.
Subsequently, in 2017, as the Prime Minister when he dedicated the campus phase 1A and once again today for the dedication of campus 1B phase. He said, “In our pursuit to make IIT Gandhinagar a world-class institute, the meaningful participation of all stakeholders has been pivotal.”
IITGN’s new Academic Buildings house the Institute Library, several classrooms for students, laboratories, faculty chambers, and a Maker Space- a space which provides hands-on learning experience to students. One Jal Mandap and 4 lawn tennis courts were also constructed under phase 1B project.
Phase 2A staff accommodation will consist of 183 units, encompassing a total built-up area of 35,000 square meters. Additionally, hostels designed to accommodate approximately 1200 students will be constructed, with a total built-up area of around 36,000 square meters as part of this phase.