Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually laid the foundation stone for Phase-B infrastructure development at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu, officials said.
The move marks a significant step in expanding the capacity of one of India’s third-generation IITs, established in 2016.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who attended the ceremony on campus, described IIT Jammu as an emerging hub for innovation and start-ups. “From its inception, IIT Jammu has been a priority for the government, conceived to meet long-standing aspirations for a premier technical institute in the region,” he said.
Phase-A construction, which included academic blocks, lecture halls, hostels, dining facilities, and utility buildings, has already been completed, enabling the institute’s rapid growth.
The Phase-B expansion, with an outlay of Rs 1,398 crore, will introduce new academic and residential facilities, laboratories, and a dedicated research park. Singh highlighted that the park, modelled on IIT Madras, will be the first of its kind in north India, strengthening industry-academia linkages, promoting start-ups, and supporting small and medium enterprises through technology-driven solutions.
The minister also noted IIT Jammu’s steady rise, including its 56th rank in the 2025 NIRF Engineering rankings—an achievement in less than a decade. He emphasized the institute’s strategic location near AIIMS, IIM Jammu, and the Central University of Jammu, which fosters interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects.
Singh added that the Union Cabinet has approved capacity expansion across five new IITs—Tirupati, Bhilai, Dharwad, Jammu, and Palakkad—with a total investment of Rs 11,828 crore. This will increase student intake to nearly 12,000 over the next four years while creating faculty positions and advanced facilities.
Recalling the early challenges of establishing IIT Jammu, including attracting leadership and faculty, Singh praised Director Manoj Singh Gaur and his team for their dedication, noting that the institute has swiftly earned national recognition.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister for prioritizing Jammu and Kashmir’s development, saying IIT Jammu’s expansion reflects India’s vision of becoming a global hub for research, education, and innovation.
