State’s first PPP-mode engineering college starts admissions

Darjeeling Hill Institute of Technology and Management (DHITM), the first college in West Bengal set up in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, will begin admissions for its first batch from 1 September, which will continue till 11 September, chairman of Odisha Child Welfare and Education Trust (OCWET) Amiya Ranjan Badajena announced on Friday.

The Institute, inaugurated on 27 August at Takdah in Darjeeling, has been established under the umbrella of OCWET in partnership with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and funded by NHPC Ltd, a Navratna PSU.

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Mr Badajena stressed that DHITM would function “like a government college, not like other private colleges where monopoly prevails.” He added that students qualifying through the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB) will pay fees comparable to Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College. Students who did not appear for WBJEEB will also get admission opportunities under a decentralized process notified by the state government.

DHITM Principal Dr Mithun Chakraborty said admissions would strictly follow state government guidelines. The AICTE-approved institute has fixed fees at Rs 65,000 for the first semester and Rs 55,000 for each subsequent semester. Infrastructure is ready for departments, including computer science, civil, electrical, mechanical, and artificial intelligence, along with hotel management, with a total intake capacity of 360 seats in the engineering streams.

Of these, 26 per cent seats are reserved for GTA candidates, with applications screened by GTA officials. NHPC employees’ wards will enjoy 5 per cent free seats. Students may also benefit from the Vivekananda Scholarship and state education loans under the Students’ Credit Card scheme.

DHITM, the 13th institution under OCWET, has received Rs 25 crore funding from NHPC out of a total Rs 40 crore project cost, while the remaining amount will be released to GTA for the second phase.

Separate hostels for boys and girls have been arranged, alongside transport and staff quarters. Additionally, homestay facilities in the locality will be promoted for male students, while female students will be accommodated within the secure campus hostel.

Highlighting the broader impact, Dr Chakraborty said: “Once DHITM starts functioning, it will not only benefit students but also boost tourism and the local economy.”