This story is from July 5, 2015

City on the cusp

Iconic institutions are all set to boost fortunes of city. Even cynics feel that Nagpur has never seen such good fortunes. With niche institutions coming up here in the next couple of years, the city is poised to hit the big league
City on the cusp
NAGPUR: The constant exodus of students from city has been responsible for empty nest syndrome where parents are living alone as their children pursue studies or make careers elsewhere. This has of late also become a cause for concern for the leadership and Nagpurians alike as it has a negative impact on the city’s growth.
But the announcements of a slew of educational institutions over the past three years have brought a glimmer of hope.
The initiatives are finally being fast tracked too as IIM-N gets underway this year. The other institutions which are likely to begun functioning over the next few years include All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Maharashtra National Law University, National Institute of Pharmacology Education and Research, Oberoi Centre for Excellence in Robotics Research and Technology, Government College of Engineering, Indian Institute of Information Technology.
Buoyed by these announcements and the whiff of development that is wafting through the city, Vidarbha Economic Development Council president Devendra Parekh says that since the country got its independence this is the first time that Nagpur has had such a stroke of good luck. “We would beg the powers-that-be in the past too bring such iconic institutions to the city, but they would say first let us bring them to Maharashtra then we will see. But now with the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis from the city, a powerful leader like Nitin Gadkari at the centre and the RSS headquarters here, it has become impossible to ignore Nagpur,” he said.
Parekh also says that these institutions will create the much-needed eco system. “A survey by a national magazine in 2012 had said that Nagpur is the only city which has registered a negative growth in population. This was because the youth were going to other cities for education and employment. So these institutions will have a social impact too as a large number of households in the city have retired parents living alone.”
The advent of such prestigious institutions will boost the fortunes of existing ones too feels Vishram Jamdar, and industrialist and chairman of VNIT’s Board of Governors. “The mood in the city is very upbeat. I can say that as IIM-N and IIIT are both coming on VNIT campus and for the 60 IIM seats we had over 1800 applicants.”
Jamdar says that in the national rating VNIT has emerged 14th this year in a list where the first 13 ranks are taken up by IITs. It will create a competitive environment in the city he says. “Such is the prestige enhancement that recently when we met Brijesh Dixit, chairman of Nagpur Metro, he not just told us about technical support and expectations that he had from VNIT but also offered employment to 15 of our students.”

Previously, for any technical support local organizations would refer it to IIT Mumbai. The advent of robotics research and technology institute supposed to come up at VNIT or Nagpur University will add further value to the academic opportunities in the city, he feels.
Institutions that offer highly specialized education create an environment which is conducive for industrial growth, feels Prafull Doshi the past president of VIA. “Setting up of these institutions will attract related industry. We have time of three to five years to create the required business opportunities for the pool of talent that these institutions will create,” says Doshi.
Though the academic and industrial spheres appear gung-ho about these developments, the other sectors like realty or food industries are keeping a cautious approach. “The impact will be felt more by low cost retail sector. Eateries, garments and daily needs are the ones who will benefit,” says builder Ashutosh Shewalkar. “Most of the institutions will be offering residential facilities and barely 25% of those associated would require accommodations. I don’t think it will impact sales or rentals of homes,” he says.
The national brands in fast food are watching the scenario with interest though. “These national level institutes will attract students from big cities who are aware of all national and international names in fast food. So we hope to feel the positive impact of this development,” says Anjan Puri who has the Subway franchise in the city. “Floating population, tourism, service sector and student population almost always spur growth in our field. But I will believe it and react when all this actually happens here,” he adds.
These developments would definitely catapult the city into the leagues of Pune, feels garment retailer Rajan Mulani. “These are all very expensive and niche courses which attract students from reasonably affluent families. They have disposable income and brand awareness too so we hope that this will have a positive impact on our business too. But of course the moot questions remains when and how soon will it all happen.”
But it is the parents of young students who are most optimistic. “It has become the mind set in the city that children will go away once they clear Std 12th. But, for the first time, we feel that things are poised for change. If all this actually happens, the quality of life and education here will get a tremendous boost,” feels bank employee Ravindra Gadge whose daughter is trying for admissions in law schools outside Nagpur.
National institutes to be set up in the city
* IIM – All set to begin operations from VNIT from July
* MNLU – Land identified at Kaladongri, but not yet finalized
* IIIT – MHRD cleared its land proposal at Waranga on Wardha Road
* AIIMS – Land at MIHAN finalized and even a central team inspected it
* NIPER – It was allotted to the city in March. Land yet to be identified
* GCOE – Land was finalized at Mouza Wanjri,
* Robotics Inst – NU & VNIT making efforts to bring it in their campuses
Existing national level institutions in city:
* Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT)
* National Fire Service College (NFSC)
* National Power Training Institute (NPTI)
* National Academy for Direct Taxes (NADT)
* National Institute of Intellectual Property Management (NIIPM)
* National Academy of Direct Taxes
* National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)
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