Cost-effective plan includes institutes in Mumbai, Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad, Dhulia and Nanded
Maharashtra government is considering a proposal to open seven new engineering colleges in the state by upgrading seven government-run polytechnics in different districts.
Apart from the government polytechnic at Bandra in Mumbai, six other government diploma schools that could be considered in the first phase are in Amravati, Nagpur, Dhule, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Nanded districts. All seven schools will have six main branches — mechanical, electrical, computer science, civil, electronics and automobile engineering with the intake capacity of 60 each.
As per the plan, the polytechnics after upgrade would continue to offer diploma courses in the evening shift while engineering courses would be conducted in the morning shift. The polytechnics teachers who have PhD degrees would be appointed to teach degree courses and promoted at university level, the proposal says.
The ambitious plan to establish seven government-owned premier centres for technical education aims to offer quality and affordable education in the state which seems to remain elusive till now with a large number of brilliant students flocking to other states and private universities.
"The cost-effective plan is drafted by Directorate of Technical Education after the government's directive last month. This will also boost government diploma schools which are struggling to fill their seats at present," said a top official from Directorate of Technical Education.
The official said: "The upgrade of a polytechnic with six main branches is expected to require Rs10 crore. Starting an engineering college from scratch needs at least Rs80 crore."
There are seven government-run engineering colleges in Maharashtra of which five have attained autonomy. This include VJTI in Mumbai and COEP in Pune — the two most sought after colleges in Maharashtra. Only Avsari (Pune) and Chandarpur colleges are purely under government.
While over 70,000 seats out of 1.5 lakh remain vacant in the state every year mostly in private institutes, government colleges have far better occupancy. "There is definitely dearth of public-funded education in the state," said an official.
"Besides, the government spends Rs4,000 crore every year in fee reimbursement of various quota students and a large proportion of this fund goes to private players. We can invest the same funds into opening own colleges which is also our responsibility," said the official.
Sanjay Chahande, principal secretary of higher and technical education, declined to comment calling the development as "premature".
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