Agartala: The state cabinet on Thursday approved Rs 50.67 crore to set up an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Bodhjungnagar in Mohanpur block, 12km from here.
The institute, which was decided to be set up under a public-private partnership (PPP) model in 2012, was stalled for six years because of pending fund clearance from the state during previous Left Front government's regime.
In a news conference here, education minister Ratan Lal Nath said his government was committed to develop academic environment in the state for the interest of students and unemployed youths. The IIIT will be set up on 52.08 acres of land at Bodhjunagar, which was identified by the government.
"The Centre decided to set up an IIIT in each state of the country in 2012. One such institution was approved for Tripura as well. But the previous government did not attach due importance to such a big project. Our government has considered it with high importance and approved Rs 50.67 crore, including Rs 5.82 crore which was expected to be funded by private partners," Nath said.
The institution will be set up with a total project cost of Rs 128 crore, of which the Centre will provide Rs 73.60 crore under the PPP model, the state government will provide Rs 44.80 crore and industrial partners were expected to fund Rs 9.60 crore. Among private partners, the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited and ONGC offered financial cooperation. However, the venture still needs Rs 5.82 crore from private partners.
"Considering the interest of students and unemployed youths from the state, we have decided to give Rs 50.67 crore. This institution will offer world-class training and education," he said.
On a different issue, the minister said the cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to form a trust for Mata Tripurasundari Temple at Udaipur in Gomati district, 50km from here. The temple is considered to be one of the 51 Hindu Shaktipeeths or holy shrines in the country. Chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb will head the trust.
Nath said the government is hopeful of boosting tourism with the new temple trust since all Hindu temples of the country which see large number of devotees, including Tirupati temple and Mata Vaishnodevi temple are managed by trusts.
