Since the state government in all practical purpose refused to allocate land on the plea that it does not have 300 acres in the vicinity of Patna the NIT was left with no option but to expand vertically. Thus the minister came all the way from New Delhi to lay down the foundation stone for two hostels for boys and one for girls besides a Student Activity Centre. The Rs 105 crore project is likely to be completed within 18 months and is being executed by Hyderabad-based firm IVRCL.

According to NIT Patna, director U C Ray all the hostels will be multistoried buildings accommodating more than 1,000 boys and girls. Due to paucity of space a large number of students had to live in private lodges in the neighbourhood area of the NIT.

The Student Activity Centre would provide medical and recreational facilities and will also have squash, tennis, badminton, courts and a gymnasium for students.

The state government’s stand on the issue of land has come as a shock to the institute as it was none else but the present chief minister, Nitish Kumar, who claimed to have played an important role in getting an NIT in Patna in January 2004 when he was the Railway Minister of the country. He is an old boy of erstwhile Bihar College of Engineering and during the inauguration then he, among other things, raised the issue of land when Rabri Devi was in power. But months later when he himself came to power his government has developed cold feet on the issue. Seven years have passed but the NIT is yet to get its own land.

What is strange is that the chief minister himself has repeatedly called for granting central university status to Patna University. Now the NIT people are asking as to from where will the state government get land for the Patna University if the Centre actually fulfills the demand.

Now the Patna University’s move to demand the campus from NIT has landed this premier engineering college of Bihar in a tight position.

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