Institute to have J&K’s first IRP within campus: Dr Jitendra
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 27 : Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for Phase-B infrastructure works of IIT Jammu through virtual mode from Jharsuguda in Odisha.
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, physically participated in the ceremony at the institute campus here. The development marks a major step in expanding the capacity of one of India’s third-generation IITs, established in 2016, said Dr Jitendra Singh while announcing that IIT Jammu will have J&K’s first Industry Research Park within the campus.
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Dr Jitendra Singh said the Phase-B expansion, sanctioned at a cost of Rs 1,398 crore, will include new academic and residential infrastructure, laboratories, and a dedicated Research Park. He underlined that this Research Park will be the first of its kind in North India, modeled on IIT Madras, and will strengthen industry-academia linkages, foster Startups, and support small and medium enterprises through technology-driven solutions.
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The Minister said that the Union Cabinet has approved capacity expansion of five 3rd generation IITs namely IIT Tirupati, Bhilai, Dharwad, Jammu and Palakkad with total outlay of Rs 11,822 crore . Out of this Rs 6483 crore is for civil work. One hundred thirty faculty positions at Professor level have also been sanctioned, the Minister said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said in addition to this, projects worth Rs 1874 crore have been sanctioned for creation of additional infrastructure in three IITs – – Jodhpur, Patna and Indore through Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA).
The Union Minister said on completion of construction these eight IITs shall increase the student strength to approximately 12,000 students in the next four years.
He said Research Parks in these IITs including Jammu IIT are being established for a robust research ecosystem and to build a strong industry-academia linkage. It is expected to increase outreach of academic content to industry and enable industry to add value to academic programmes through close collaborations with top rated industries, helping Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and other sectors with technology development and upgrade etc.
Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded Jammu IIT’s remarkable progress within a short span of time and said that among the new IITs started around 2016, IIT Jammu has made a visible mark on the academic scene.
The Minister said, IIT Jammu has emerged as a priority institution for the Government from its inception, conceived to address long-standing aspirations for a premier technical institute in the region. He recalled that Phase-A construction, including academic blocks, lecture theatres, hostels, dining facilities, and utility buildings, has already been completed, enabling the institute to grow rapidly in its formative years.
Highlighting IIT Jammu’s steady rise, the Minister noted that the institute secured the 56th rank in the 2025 NIRF Engineering rankings, a sign of its progress in less than a decade of establishment. He also pointed to the unique advantage of IIT Jammu’s location, surrounded by institutions such as AIIMS, IIM Jammu, and the Central University of Jammu, which enables collaborative projects and interdisciplinary research.
Recalling the initial challenges of setting up IIT Jammu, including difficulties in attracting leadership and faculty in its formative years, Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the dedication of Director Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur and his team, noting that under their stewardship the institute has overcome early hurdles and earned national recognition within a short span of time.
Concluding his address, the Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his continued focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s development, stating that IIT Jammu’s expansion reflects India’s broader vision of becoming a global centre for research, education, and innovation.
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