Maharashtra government to start 6 new engineering colleges

The state cabinet cleared the proposal for upgrading six polytechnic colleges as engineering colleges, increasing the total number of government-run engineering colleges to 14.

The state government has decided to start six new engineering colleges across Maharashtra.

The move will help increase the intake capacity for degree courses at government-run colleges up to 4,650 from the existing 3,000. (HT Photo)

The state cabinet, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, cleared the proposal for upgrading six polytechnic colleges as engineering colleges, increasing the total number of government-run engineering colleges to 14.

The polytechnic colleges that will be upgraded as engineering colleges are Ratnagiri, Dhule, Solapur, Latur, Jalna and Yavatmal. The Ratnagiri engineering college will come under the University of Mumbai.

The move will help increase the intake capacity for degree courses at government-run colleges up to 4,650 from the existing 3,000.

“The decision was taken considering the increasing demand for engineering courses at government colleges,” said a senior official from the technical education department.

“The government will soon be seeking permission from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to upgrade the colleges. Each college will have intake capacity of 300-340 seats. The existing teaching staff will also be upgraded,” said the senior official.

There are around 43 polytechnic colleges across the state. Of them, some are running diploma courses in two shifts.

While upgrading polytechnic colleges, the existing diploma courses need to be terminated and this will be done in phases. In case of Latur and Yavatmal district, the polytechnic college for girls will be converted into co-ed, while the other one will be upgraded to an engineering college. Both districts have two polytechnic colleges.

In case of Ratnagiri, the existing pharmacology diploma course will be shifted to the government pharmacology college situated in the district itself, the official explained.