The new polytechnic college that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has announced for Srirangam constituency she represents is yet another bonanza for Tiruchi district.
The institution will be the second government polytechnic college in Tiruchi district. The existing Government Polytechnic College at Thuvakkudi has been functioning in the district from 1963. Madurai and Coimbatore districts are the other two districts in the State with two polytechnics each.
The State government has already taken steps to secure the nod of All India Council for Technical Education for making the new polytechnic college functional from the coming academic year.
The government has sanctioned Rs.13.3 crore for construction of buildings and Rs.50 lakh for purchase of equipment. Of the 10 new polytechnic colleges proposed for start from the coming academic year, two will be in the neighbouring districts of Ariyalur and Pudukottai (Gandharvakottai).
Till the new buildings are ready, the polytechnic colleges will temporarily function from the nearest government high or higher secondary school, sources said.
The Srirangam constituency has benefitted educationally by way of three other institutions: a constituent college of Bharathidasan University at Inamkulathur, an Indian Institute of Information Technology, and a National Law School.
The Bharathidasan University college temporarily functioning from the government higher secondary school in Inamkulathur has 203 rural students enrolled in four programmes.
The Indian Institute of Information Technology will be jointly established by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, the State government, and an industry partner.
The National Law School is coming up at Navalur Kuttapattu. The soil test has already been completed at the 25 acre site where the institution will come up at an investment of Rs.100 crore entirely funded by the State government.
The Chief Minister had laid the foundation for the college during February last year. A Special Officer has also been appointed by the State government for the Law School. Significantly, Tiruchi already has two national institutions: National Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Management.