Cusat's ₹243-cr. expansion plan gets nod.

The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has given approval to the ₹243-crore development plan submitted by the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).

The board, which met in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, gave its nod for the ambitious proposal that aims at elevating the research and infrastructure facilities on the campus to the international level. “This is a major leap for Cusat. With the board approving the project, we will be able to start the work soon,” said J. Letha, Vice Chancellor.

The detailed project report prepared by the university has earmarked ₹136.36 crore for setting up a laboratory of international standards while the funds required for improving the infrastructure is ₹106.56 crore.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has envisaged ₹63.68 crore for setting up infrastructure to enhance the teaching and learning process in the university departments. A project to ensure supply of reliable and sustainable power to support the research and development on the campus is expected to cost ₹15.12 crore. The DPR said that ₹27.26 crore has been earmarked for enhancing the quality of campus life.

The main campus of the university at Thrikkakara will get a new academic complex as part of the proposed infrastructure development plan. An international level guest house will also come up on the main campus.

The lakeside campus will also have a multi-storey academic complex.

Other plans include setting up a swimming pool, sustainable power generation, improvement of roads and renovation of the open air auditorium.

The DPR has stated that a dedicated line from the Kerala State Electricity Board along with solar power generation will be implemented to meet the increasing demand for continuous and uniform availability of power on the campus.

The intermittent power outages and fluctuation in the voltage in the campus are major impediments in carrying out quality research, it said.

A campus development plan will also be implemented as part of the first phase of funding under the KIIFB. The focus will be to avoid overlapping of academic and residential areas. Pedestrian paths and cycle tracks will come up on the main campus. The campus roads will get a face-lift.

The DPR has focussed on augmenting research and development programmes in science, technology and marine science.

The Roads and Bridges Development Corporation Ltd was the special purpose vehicle entrusted with the task of executing the infrastructure development plans involving construction work.

THE HINDU