State’s first engineering college may open next year

SHILLONG, June 6: Meghalaya’s dream of having its first very own engineering college is likely to become a reality from the next academic session. Located at Mawlai, the existing polytechnic is being remodelled to meet the requirements of a full-fledged engineering college.
Officials of the state PWD (which is handling the civil works) informed that despite lockdown the construction work was nearing completion with 80 per cent of the Rs 26 crore project already been executed.
The official said that the department is looking to complete the project by December this year, even as he pointed out that in spite of prevailing lockdown there have been some transportation issues in availing materials for interior works such as tiles from outside the state. “We will finish the exterior works of the building in the next two months,” the official said.
It was also informed that around 80 local labourers are working at the site with adherence to physical distance and other Covid protocols.
However, with the upcoming engineering college once functional, the state will be able to silence the critics for taking 50 long years to build such an institution. It is expected that once the refurbished campus is handed over, it will be up to the Higher and Technical Education department to take it forward, including recruitment of staff, selection of courses and enrolment of students.