Land and Location of NIT Srinagar

Government of India, in 1960 opened nine (09) Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs), 2 on average in each region and REC Srinagar was one among them. These institutions were envisaged to function as pace setters and to provide academic leadership to the technical institutions and fulfil the aspirations of the youth in their respective regions. REC Srinagar started its modest journey from Naseembagh campus in 1960 and was later on shifted to its present campus, with an intake of 125 students, enrolling students from many countries. With its glorious past, notable and competent alumni across the globe, it was ranked among the top five Engineering Colleges in the country.

With time and subsequent needs of the growing population along with foresightedness and pragmatic approach of Central Governments, the number of these institutes has reached thirty-one (31) and in 2003, these erstwhile Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) were rechristened as National Institute of Technology (NITs) and were declared as Institutes of National Importance (INI). These institutes of eminence are expected to be at par with other national level technical institutes and to fulfil the demands of high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education in engineering, science and humanities. For that, NIT Srinagar always stood the test of time and has been in services of nation since its inception, despite an admissible fact of ups and downs. This House of Wisdom is harbinger of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond. We are grateful to those men and women who acknowledge the marvels of engineering and extend support for its expansion and augmentation.

For clarification of the public, pupil and leaders regarding the land requirement, for which we have placed indent also, few old NITs of the country are mentioned for comparison in tabular form.

Since 2004, the intake capacity of NIT Srinagar was increased 10 times and it is almost 1000 students per year, excluding Maters and Doctoral students, which is also in hundreds, from almost all parts of the country. Thus, it became almost impossible to accommodate such a large family in a small piece of land, with no provision of expansion (neither horizontal nor vertical) for construction of academic and residential blocks. The administration faced multiple difficulties and even at times criticism, from parents and public. Since 2004 (as I know), the institute authorities have been requesting the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for its additional campus (as it is an obligation on the respective state governments), though a successful attempt was derailed in 2005, during Prof S K Panday’s tenure. The issue is more than two decades old and it was buried time and again.

It is matter of record, that Regional Engineering College Srinagar was always given special attention by the Governments of Jammu and Kashmir and by the Ministry of Education, Govt of India. Wajahat Habibullah (IAS) and Dr. M J Zarabi (Ph.D IISc), who served the institute as Chairpersons, Board of Governors (BOG), National Institute of Technology Srinagar have been repeatedly requesting authorities for the land, which was subsequently and seriously taken up by Prof Rajat Gupta and Prof Rakesh Sehgal, the immediate past Directors.

Prior to them, Chief Ministers of the state used to be the chairperson of BOG, who also had been very sincere to this institution. Hon’ble Chief Minister Omar Abdulla and his government is also extending support to resolve the issue amicably. Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor  Manoj Sinha is so kind and friendly to this institution that during his entire tenure, the unwavering support and commitments shall be remembered by the generation to come. We are hopeful that with his blessings, the long pending issue of more than two decades shall be settled soon.

Since students and faculty are from almost all parts of the country, the location and the connectivity of the New Campus is of paramount importance. Its connection with roadways, railways and airways should not be compromised. Equally important in its vicinity should be the manufacturing units and the institution should grow under the shadow of visionary industrialists, like Alferd. The administration aims to get the foreign students again, with multiple new programmes in hand, including introducing the space and aerodynamic sciences. Keeping in view launching of various programs, the indent for the land was placed to the government. Hon’ble Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir earnestly requested to settle the long pending and urgent issue. I, as Nodal Officer would like to make an appeal to officials at the helm of affairs to join hands and extend support to this genuine and urgently needed demand.

Prof M A Shah, is former Head Department of Physics NIT Srinagar, and Nodal Officer for