The Rs 250-crore Institute of Advanced Technology coming up at Muddenahalli
The Visvesvaraya Institute of Advanced Technology (VIAT), which is coming up at Muddenahalli is destined to have a picturesque backdrop for an academic campus in the State. Nestled between the scenic Skandhagiri and Chennagiri hills, along the Nandi mountain range, work on the campus is all set to start soon after 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Sir M V on September 15.
Natural surroundings apart, its the prestigious landmark address - Muddenahalli - birthplace of the country’s greatest engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya that will set this Rs 250 crore centre for advanced research in engineering and technology apart from the rest.
Advanced learning
The enthusiasm among the local people of Muddenahalli, around 55 km from Bangalore, that an institute of advanced scientific learning is coming up in their midst, is palpable.
“The new project is bound to improve the economy here and also provide the much needed employment opportunities for the local people,” said Muniraju, a sericulturist at Muddenahalli.
“All these years the village would come alive only during September in the run-up to the birthday celebrations. Dignitaries would arrive, talk about the achievements of Sir M V and leave. Now, it’s a fitting tribute to Sir M V that VIAT is coming up here,” said Rajanna, a member and former president of Muddehanalli Gram Panchayat.
Main stakeholder
Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), the main stakeholder of the advanced research centre, is already in possession of 200 acres of land identified for the project. “The survey work has been done and the paper work for transferring the land has been completed. Its all gomala land, not even a single farmer had to lose his land for project,” says Vema Narayana, Revenue Secretary of Muddenahalli gram panchayat.
VTU proposes to start the first batch at the centre from the next academic year (2011-12). The target looks ambitious as the terrain is rugged, full of boulders and uneven.
However, VTU Vice-Chancellor H Maheshappa is confident. He says the blue print for phase-1 is ready. To start with, VIAT will offer MTech programmes in Nano-technology, Smart Technology and Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and will be expanded in a phased manner to include 12 courses and PhD programmes over the coming years, he explained.
Vision group
The V-C said a vision group comprising academicians and experts will soon be constituted to work out the structure and programmes of VIAT. He said the post graduate programme will have 18 to 25 students each. VIAT will also house the country’s first skill development centre under the new skill development policy.
Another local peson Subbanna, an octogenarian, who grew up seeing an elderly Sir M V, whenever he visited Muddenahalli, said the words of the great engineer that education was the remedy for all economic ills was finally becoming a reality at his birthplace.
“Sir M V always believed that integrated development of personality could be achieve through academic excellence. He used to encourage us to study and attend school. Its befitting that VIAT is being set up at Muddenahalli,” Subbanna said.