Palampur Aug. 29 - In a major breakthrough for higher education and infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh, the state government has officially executed a lease deed with IIT Mandi for land earmarked for its new campus in Palampur. Announcing the development during a press conference on Saturday, Gokul Butail, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister (Digital Technologies, Governance, and Innovation), termed the completion of the lease process a "vital milestone" that clears the path for the institution’s expansion.
Addressing reporters, Butail revealed that the lease deed has been signed for approximately 550 kanals of land in the first phase. An additional 800 kanals will be handed over to IIT Mandi once forest clearances are obtained, bringing the total proposed campus area to around 1,400 kanals. He added that the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hamirpur has already completed most of the initial technical surveys required for the campus layout.
Emphasizing the economic and academic impact of the project, Butail noted that establishing a premier national institute in Palampur will act as a major catalyst for education, employment, and technical innovation across Kangra district. He reiterated the state government's proactive approach in expediting the land transfer and expressed confidence that campus construction would gather momentum swiftly.
Gokul Butail expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani for their decisive support in finalizing the lease process for the project.
Confirming the institute's commitment, IIT Mandi Registrar Kumar Sambhav Pandey stated that the Palampur campus will be developed into a modern, state-of-the-art facility. He commended the state govt. and Gokul Butail for their sustained efforts in concluding the lease deed, assuring that preliminary construction activities will commence within the stipulated timeline.
The press conference was also attended by Municipal Corporation Commissioner Netra Meti, Tehsildar Sajan Bagga, and ITI Mandi Principal Ajesh Kumar.