We have increases our intake by 50 per cent from 5,500 and are marching towards 8,000 level ­­ Prof. Ramamurthi Director, IIT Madras
The number of students joining the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, has increased by about 50 per cent and the administration has started constructing new buildings to accommodate them.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating Shaastra, the IITM’s annual technical festival on Wednesday, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, who recently
assumed charge as the director of the institute, said, “We have increased our intake by 50 per cent from 5,500 and are marching towards the 8,000 level.

Tenders have been awarded and we have started construction. The buildings will be ready in 18 months.

We have worked out a master plan so there is no problem in accommodating over 8,000 students,” he said.

Pointing out that the administration would maintain the character of the institute as a reserve forest, Prof. Ramamurthi said that the expansion
would take place in the academic zone without disturbing the character of the institute.

Asked about the proposal to have a separate campus, the director said that if the state government provided land, they would think about it. “We can use the new campus for new initiatives but we are yet to decide anything about it; but for the next five years we will have expansion in this same campus,” he added.