Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: After years of uncertainty over its permanent location, IIT Goa has moved a step closer to establishing its own campus, with the Union Ministry of Education approving a 4.5 lakh square metre land parcel at Farmagudi in Ponda taluka.
The approved site is located within the Goa College of Engineering (GEC) campus and has been recommended by the Site Selection Committee (SSC), which visited the area in May. The Ministry has accepted the committee’s recommendation and directed the Goa government to complete the required formalities for transferring the land to the institute.
The approval is being seen as a significant milestone for IIT Goa, which has been functioning from temporary premises since it was established in 2016. The institute has repeatedly highlighted the need for a dedicated campus to accommodate its growing academic, research and residential requirements.
Officials said the Centre’s earlier decision to ease the minimum land requirement for new IIT campuses helped clear the path for the Farmagudi proposal. The approved parcel is smaller than the previously prescribed norm, but is considered adequate for the institute’s immediate development needs. Provision for additional land can be explored in the future if expansion becomes necessary.
The search for a permanent campus has been a prolonged and often contentious process. Several proposed locations across Goa failed to materialise due to local opposition, environmental concerns and land acquisition difficulties.
Sites at Loliem, Melauli and Cotarli were dropped after facing resistance from residents, while proposals involving Rivona and Dharbandora did not progress owing to challenges in securing land. Last year, another proposal at Codar in Ponda was abandoned following objections from villagers.
The absence of a permanent campus has posed challenges for IIT Goa’s long-term planning and infrastructure growth. The institute has also been seeking to strengthen its research ecosystem and improve student facilities, areas that are expected to receive a boost once construction of the new campus begins.
With the Centre now giving its approval, attention will shift to the state government for the completion of land transfer procedures, a key step before development work can commence on IIT Goa’s permanent home.
