Imphal, August 12 2010: A call from the Chief Minister to make it excel marked the commencement of the first session of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Manipur at its temporary place at the Government Polytechnic campus today.

The first session of the much awaited National Institute of Technology, the first ever institute of its kind in the state set up by the state government with funding from the Central government, commenced today at its temporary premises inside the Government Polytechnic, Takyelpat in Imphal west district.

Before announcing the commencement of the session in three different courses, Chief Minister, O Ibobi also inaugurated the temporarily building of the NIT.

The courses opened in the NIT are Computer Science and Technology (CST), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) and Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEC).

The intake capacity of each course is 30 students.

The inaugural cum session commencement function graced by Chief Minister, O Ibobi was presided over by education minister L Jayentakumar.

MLA Bijoy Koijam, Director of NIT Manipur, BK Ghosh and Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, C Amuba attended as guests of honour.

Delivering his address as chief guest, Chief Minister, O Ibobi called for a concerted effort of the teaching faculty, authority and students to make the institute the best of its kind in the country. The tireless effort of the state government in setting up this institute has been fruitfully realised today and a long cherished dream of the state also fulfilled when the session of the first batch of the NIT opened today, he said.

He also said that with the coming up of this institute, the state has stepped into a new era of education and the government will leave no stone unturned to bring up the institute as the finest of its kind.

Government has allotted 330 acres of land for construction of the permanent campus of the NIT at Langol, Lamphel and to getting ready to start construction work of some structures.

Government has spent Rs 30 crore in acquiring the land and fencing the compound.

Three to four years will be take in developing the infrastructures of the institute at its permanent site, the Chief Minister went on to say.

Citing the vital important of seeking knowledge, state education minister while delivering his speech as president of the function said that with perfect knowledge, a man could do whatever he wanted.

The scope of the institute will not concentrate only in engineering technology but it will expand by opening mechanical and civil engineering courses within the next two years.

Other courses like management and allied sciences will also be added in due course of time.

The actual capacity of the three courses is 90 students (30 each in each three course) but only 61 students enrolled this years session 2010-11.Out of the 61 students seven are female students, and of the 61, twenty are from outside the state, he said.

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