HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad centre of Birla Institute of Technological Sciences (BITS) is likely to come up at either Kokapet in Rajendranagar mandal or East City, 40 km from the city, in Bibinagar mandal of Nalgonda district.

A team of BITS along with officials of the State Government visited five places on the outskirts of the city — Jawahar Nagar in Shameerpet mandal, Mamidipalli in Saroornagar mandal, Kokapet in Rajendranagar mandal, Rakamcherla in Pudur mandal and East City in Bibinagar mandal.

The team headed by BITS Vice-Chancellor S. Venkateswaran showed keen interest in Kokapet, East City and Jawaharnagar in order of preferences while ruling out Mamidipalli due to the international airport in the vicinity and Rakamcherla for the distance factor.

K. Prabhakar Reddy, Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister, said Kokapet was the top choice of the visiting team. It also liked East City as it is on the National Highway. A final decision will be taken within a week. Mr. Reddy said despite the willingness of the Government to give land free of cost, the team was keen on buying it at concessional rate.

According to officials, development of Kokapet land will cost quite a sum while they can start construction right away at East City. Mr. Reddy said the institution would be of international standard and better than the existing ones.

Academics are likely to start from 2007. The team was apparently happy with the positive response from the State Government.

Fruitful visit: BITS V-C

Prof. Venkateswaran said the visit was fruitful and within a month they would come out with a plan. He said the Chief Minister was very supportive.

"Lot of details like infrastructure and faculty recruitment have to be worked out. So it is unfair to say now when we will set up the institute but efforts will be made to start it soon," he added.

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