Kangra News
IIT Mandi to set up extension campus in Palampur, Kangra to become technology hub of North India
Butail said the initiative is a major step towards realising Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s vision of developing Palampur and Kangra as a major technology hub of northern India.
Dharamshala, February 2: In a significant step towards higher education and technological advancement in Himachal Pradesh, IIT Mandi will now set up its extension campus on about 52 hectares of land in Palampur. The announcement in this regard was made by Gokul Butail, Principal Advisor (Innovation, Digital Technology and Governance) to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Palampur today.
Butail, who also serves on the board of directors of IIT Mandi Catalyst (the institute’s startup incubator), said that he actively made efforts to set up the IIT extension campus in Palampur. For this, 22 hectares of land in Bhagotla village has already been allotted on lease to IIT Mandi under the Department of Technical Education, while the process of obtaining FCA clearance from the Central Government for additional 31 hectares of land is underway.
Palampur is already home to prestigious academic institutions like Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (CSKHPKV) and CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology. It is a strategically important location due to improved connectivity. The upcoming four-lane highway will make the journey to Pathankot Broad Gauge Railway line less than two hours after completion. In addition, the expansion of Dharamshala (Gaggal) airport will make the region even more accessible.
The new extension campus of IIT Mandi will offer specialized courses in cutting-edge areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Drone Technology, Sustainable Technology and Management courses, thereby promoting innovation and research. Along with academic excellence, the campus will also boost local employment opportunities, generating employment opportunities for people at various levels of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled.
Butail said the initiative is a major step towards realising Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s vision of developing Palampur and Kangra as a major technology hub of northern India. It will help make the region a major hub of education, research and innovation.
