The proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here will start functioning from its temporary campus at Kozhipara, near Walayar, from August 3.
Talking to The Hindu , M.B. Rajesh, MP, said IIT authorities informed him that classes would begin on August 3.
The date of formal inauguration of the temporary campus would be fixed on the convenience of Union Minister Smriti Irani.
Officials of IIT Madras, which has administrative control over the new IIT, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Walayar-based Ahalya Group of Educational Institutions for providing its buildings for the temporary campus.
Meanwhile, land acquisition for the permanent campus of the IIT at Pudussery West is almost complete.
Mr. Rajesh said it was the enthusiasm and cooperation of the local community that led to the early launch of the IIT. The IITs allotted to Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Chhattisgarh are yet to start functioning, he said.
He said IIT officials were satisfied with the facilities arranged for the temporary campus in Palakkad.
Officials of the Ahalya group confirmed that the work on the temporary campus was over. All facilities sought by the IIT authorities had been arranged.
In the beginning, classrooms and accommodation for 120 students would be arranged on the temporary campus. A men’s hostel with 53 rooms and a women’s hostel with 73 rooms had already been completed. The Ahalya group would supervise the mess, housekeeping, and security aspects of the hostels.
Thirteen quarters for the teaching staff had also been arranged at Kozhipara.
The classrooms had been arranged in a 55,000 sq ft building. Lift facilities had also been arranged. There would be 120 seats in the mechanical, civil, electrical, and computer streams.
