Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s alma mater National Institute of Technology (NIT) is ready to contribute to the development of the state in any way it can.

Nitish, a 1973-batch electrical engineering alumnus of the NIT (then Bihar College of Engineering), has never missed an opportunity to visit the institute despite his busy schedule. The state government has also helped the institute acquire 100 acres at Bihta for the construction of its new campus.

Now, the institute wants to return the favour. NIT-Patna director Asok De said: “We receive full co-operation from the government for the development of the institute. The government has given us the possession letter after acquiring 100 acres at Bihta for the construction of the new campus. It has also supported our decision to construct a boundary wall around it.”

He added: “We are always ready to shoulder any responsibility the government or the chief minister gives us for the development of the state.”

The NIT-Patna administration will find an opportunity to offer their service to the chief minister at the alumni meet of the institute on February 3 that Nitish is likely to attend.

Besides Nitish, other well-known former students of the NIT like rural works minister Bhim Singh, atomic energy commission chairperson Ratan Kumar Sinha, Railway Board member A.P. Mishra, former chairperson of BSNL A.K. Singh and former chairperson of MTNL Ram Sharan Prasad have been invited to the event.

Girish Kumar Choudhary, professor, electrical engineering, said: “Some of them have already confirmed their attendance.”

At the meet, the current students who have topped their exams would be presented with gold medals. Some meritorious students would also be provided scholarships.

Alumni and students would also play cricket matches.

Director De said: “The alumni meet is an important event. Many former students of our institute have had successful professional careers and are at top positions.”

Sources at the institute said NIT authorities would also ask the former students to help it out in a number of ways, like providing placement to passouts, starting scholarships and generating funds for the alumni association and infrastructure development.

This year, there has been low campus recruitment at the NIT. Students and officials said the economic slowdown is the main reason for this.