Patna, Dec. 22: The state government is planning to open polytechnic institutes in all districts and organise district-level job fairs for the passouts.

At present, there are 13 polytechnic institutes in the state.

Bhagwan Singh, the director of the science and technology department, said: “The government, to increase the reach of technical education in the state, has planned to open polytechnic colleges in every district.”

Of the 25 polytechnic colleges to be opened in the state in the next few years, Singh said the under-construction polytechnic institutes at Katihar, Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas district and Asthawan in Nalanda district would start by 2012.

The one at Lakhisarai will meet a 2013 deadline. The construction for the remaining 21 would begin once the land is finalised.

The department sources identified land acquisition as the biggest hurdle in opening technical institutes in the state. Singh said: “We have asked the respective district magistrates to provide land for speedy opening of the institutes.”

Earlier, the polytechnic colleges were confined to urban centres such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya and Bhagalpur. Patna has three polytechnic institutes and Muzaffarpur has two. Backward districts like Aurangabad, Jamui and Khagaria have none. Students from such districts have to come down to Patna and Muzaffarpur to pursue polytechnic courses.

The department sources said the government also plans to organise job fairs at the district-level to give employment to passouts from the technical institutes.

The respective district administration has been asked to prepare a calendar for organising the job fairs. A committee has been constituted to liaise with corporate houses to explore job opportunities for the unemployed.

Along with the polytechnic institutes, the government plans to set up around 20 engineering colleges in the next few years.

Four years ago, chief minister Nitish Kumar had set up Motihari Engineering College, Darbhanga Engineering College, Nalanda Engineering College at Chandi and Gaya Engineering College to expand the reach of technical education.

A new engineering college was opened at Chhapra this year. All these engineering cradles were brought under the ambit of Aryabhatta Knowledge University this year for smooth functioning.