The State government has set in motion its ambitious plan to turn Tirupati into an ‘Education Hub’, with HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao announcing the functioning of IIT and IISER from this academic year.
Interacting with the media after inspecting sites in and around Merlapaka of Srikalahasti constituency on Tuesday, Mr. Rao said admissions would begin soon and the classes would be conducted in private educational institutions until the completion of the respective buildings. “IIT will be accepting 120 students under four engineering branches, whereas IISER will accept 50 students. Separate teams from the institutions are currently evaluating the feasibility of conducting classes in private institutions in the vicinity and will soon zero in on the locations,” he said. Mr. Rao said the government was planning to hold the foundation stone laying ceremony in a big way, by involving students in the form of discussions and debates. Union Ministers Smriti Irani, M. Venkaiah Naidu and Y.S. Chowdary and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will take part in the ceremony on March 28.
