Smriti Irani to open IISER campus

Thiruvananthapuram: Union minister for human resources development Smriti Irani will inaugurate the first phase of the IISER-Thiruvananthapuram in its permanent campus at Vithura on Thursday. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will be the chief guest at the function. The state government had transferred 200 acres of land for the construction, which started in March 2011.

However, some issues relating to the contract delayed works and following that it was terminated in February 2014. The construction was then handed over to the Central PWD, which completed the work on time. The campus has three building blocks in the first phase. IISER would set up laboratory facilities for research students soon. The construction of the chemical science block, hostel and a central dining hall was completed in the first phase. IISER has been functioning from the transit campus of College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET) from 2008.

First and second-year students of BSMS will study on the new campus for the next academic year. The blocks for physics and biology and additional hostel facility for 500 students will be complete within the next 15 months.