Visakhapatnam loses premier institutes to EG

Visakhapatnam: In the race to bag two premier institutes, East Godavari district won over Vizag. Two premier institutes, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), were initially approved for Vizag and the district administration had also identified suitable land for them. At a time when the district administration was making arrangements for a temporary campus for IIFT, the state government had put the proposal on hold, a few months ago. Now, it was communicated that the institute has been shifted to East Godavari district. Same is the case with IIP.

Land for IIFT has been  seen by Prof. Ashok Kumar and his team from IIFT Delhi on Nov 20 last year at Gambheeram  and five places of temporary campuses were also shown to them. Interestingly, IIP representatives came forward to start campus at Vizag and also visited city on a  feasibility study last December. A team of  IIP, led by its chairman, R.V.S.  Ramak-rishna and director N.C.  Saha visited various industries in Vizag for two days in December on a feasibility study to start its  campus in Vizag.

The IIP team which found huge potential for packaging in Vizag due to the presence of various industries in seafood, pharma, apparel and diary sectors, zeroed in 10 acres site at Gambheeram to set up the campus and also proposed ‘packaging park’ that can house India’s top 50 packaging companies. Vizag MP K. Haribabu also recently said that IIFT and IIP will be set up in East Godavari district. "I doubt if there is any proper eco-system to set up both the institutes there in East Godavari districts. It was due to the potential here in Vizag,  due to the presence of so many industries in various sectors that IIP had come forward top set up their campus in Visakhapatnam,” the MP said.
zag which will be beneficial for local industries.

Unfortunately these two institutes had gone to West Godavari district. Its not that we are against de centralization but there must be some logic behind shifting such institutes which are apt for Vizag," said co convenor of Vizag Development Council (VDC), O Naresh Kumar. Interestingly due to lack of such eco system union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan had shifted the proposed Indian Institute of Petroleum and Engineering (IIPE), from East Godavari to Vizag. Initially IIPE was sanctioned for East Godavari.

IIPE gets ready for launch:

Another big-ticket central educational institution, namely Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE), is getting final touches to make its debut from 2016-17 academic year from Visakhapatnam. This premier institution adds to the already flourishing kitty of new era institutions. The Union government has accorded the petroleum university of national significance to AP as promised during bifurcation. Andhra University would serve as a temporary campus as well as provide infrastructure for IIPE until a permanent campus is built near Sabbavaram. A block of six rooms at the AU Engineering College was allotted to the institution and the renovation works are underway. The IIPE would offer two undergraduate programmes in petroleum, chemical  engineering with a  capacity of 120 seats before introducing the PG.

JEE (Advanced) score would serve as a basis for admissions and an MoU has already been executed between IIT-Guwahati and IIPE for the selection of candidates for 2016-17 academic year. Speaking to DC, Advisor-Academics of the IIPE and former professor of Andhra University, who has served in various capacities in Department of Chemical Engineering at Andhra University, Dr. VSRK Prasad, said; "The institution was launched with a mandate to lead the nation forward in education, research and training related to all areas of Petroleum and Energy. The institution would come fully equipped with infrastructure and academic at par with the IITs, keeping pacing with the fast developing and competitive energy industry. Besides conventional energy sources, the students are also trained in non-conventional energy sources such as solar energy, nanotechnology, etc. Until things settle down, we utilise the infrastructure of Andhra University, including lecture halls, teaching laboratories, Wi-Fi facility, library, etc.," Dr. Prasad added.

The varsity officials are currently on a hunt for a perfect place of accommodation for students, who take admissions during the 2016-17 academic year. A senior official from the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, who has been anchoring the project, informed that the IIT-Kharagpur would extend support as an academic mentor institute in the initial phase. The IIPE has also formed an Advisory Committee with experts to support in various areas related to academics.