Centre approves IIIT project in Tripura

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has approved a proposal for setting up an Indian Institute of Information Technology in Tripura.

"Though no formal letter has been received by the state government yet, we came to know that the MHRD issued a notification clearing the proposal for establishing the IIIT," Special Secretary to Higher Education Kishore Ambuly said.

"We are happy the state will have an institute like IIIT," he said.

MHRD Minister Kapil Sibal had assured the state government during his last visit to Agartala that

one IIIT would come up at Agartala to give a major push to the IT sector in Tripura.

After getting assurance from the Centre, the state government has identified 50 acres of land at Bodhjungnagar, about 12 km away from the state capital, for the proposed IIIT, official sources said.

The IIIT would be set up on Public Private Partnership model, the source said adding Tripura ONGC, OTPC, NEEPCO and six private players of West Bengal have agreed to join hands with the project.

An amount of Rs 128 crore (Rs 1.28 billion) is expected to be spent for setting up the proposed IIIT.