Nagpur: Come Sunday and city-based Visvesvaraya National Technology Institute (VNIT), thanks to its alumni association, will give a new look. The first institution will mark its diamond jubilee by unveiling Sir M Visvesvaraya’s 10-feet-high bronze statue, after whom the institute is named.
In the presence of VNIT chairman Vishram Jamdar, director Pramod Padole, alumni association chairman Shashikant Chaudhary and others, a new-look entrance with modern fountains, street lights and a LED light display would also be inaugurated on the day by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari. The dignitaries would also inaugurate three more projects funded by the Alumni. These include a soccer field, two tennis courts in the park, and a modern night tea kiosk named’ Chandrama’ for students.
Interestingly, the different batches of VNIT have fully conceptualized, supported and executed all the projects.
“Our alumni association has raised Rs5 crore, which would be used for various academic programs as well as for infrastructural projects. So far, we have completed 11 projects for them to fund. We have also entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Union Transport to conduct road safety and audit classes for government officials including those from PWD and CPWD, “Padole told the media.
He added that the statue was created by Ram Sutaria, who was part of the Gujarat team which constructed the highest’ Statue of Unity’ in the world. “Fourteen of my doctoral students have contributed to the statue,” he said.
Explaining the other projects, Chaudhary said their organization has operated since 2012 and has 1,600 members of life so far. “The 1984 batch took on the task of giving the bronze statue, and Chandrama was set up in 1985 batch. The 1986 batch helped build the tennis courts, and the football stadium was funded by 1992 batch. In the diamond jubilee year, more alumni are coming forward to support their alma mater. We have statistics of 20,000 of the more than 22,000 students who have graduated from this prestigious institution, albeit partially, “he said, adding that it felt nice to give back to your alma mater.
Jamdar said VNIT will create a’ Center for Excellence in Innovation’ in cooperation with the Government of India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) division. “We will be holding a meeting of directors of various NITs, and under this initiative, 16 of them have already agreed to attend. Kirloskar group’s Vikram Kirloskar has agreed to give a carbon policy ranking and accreditation lecture at our college on February 8th, “he said.
Padole added that Visvesvaraya’s grand nephew— Satish Mokshagundam and his wife Laxmi Satish — would attend Sunday’s meeting. “Our alumni chapters are also working in Dubai and the USA apart from all metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore,” he said.
New projects in VNIT* 10-feet-high bronze statue of Sir M Visvesvaraya* New look front with fountains, street lights & LED light show* Big football ground and two lawn tennis courts* Modernized night tea kiosk Chandrama for students*‘ Centre for Excellence in innovation’ with MSME Dept* City’s biggest international convention centre* Freshwater lake inside college premises
