BITS Pilani Goa to add 18,000 sqm academic space in 3-4 years

PANAJI: BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa campus, is set to add 18,000sqm to its existing academic space of 37,000 sq ms within the next three to four years as part of the institute's university's Vision 2020 expansion plan, BITS Goa campus director G Raghurama told TOI.

The plans are aimed at shifting focus of BITS Pilani institutes to teaching and research, from only being recognised for its teaching.

"Around 8-9 years back, we took this strategic decision. We had not planned in terms of research on that scale until 2009. You will see lot of construction work going on at our campus now. Research demands heavy infrastructure in terms of space. Today, we have around 37,000 sqm of academic space. We will add some 18,000 sqm to that. Other than that hostels, teachers' residences, sporting facilities and other infrastructure are being added," Raghurama said.

The 180-acre Goa campus is estimated to see an investment of Rs 425 crore as part of the expansion plans.

"We are also setting up a sophisticated instrumentation facility. We are purchasing sophisticated equipment which could be in the range of Rs 2 to Rs 4 crore each and setting it up to be accessed by faculty and research scholars. We have already spent around Rs 5 crore," he said.