Darjeeling gets first engineering college, Raju Bista hails milestone in education

The first-ever engineering college in the Darjeeling region was officially inaugurated on Wednesday. The newly established Darjeeling Hill Institute of Technology and Management (DHITM) at Takdah valley has been set up with financial support from the National Hydro Development Corporation (NHPC), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

According to the official announcement, a total of Rs 40 crore has been allocated for the project, of which Rs 30 crore has already been transferred, while the remaining Rs 10 crore will be provided by the end of this year. The foundation stone of the institute was originally laid in 2012 during the tenure of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) led by Bimal Gurung. However, political instability and administrative hurdles had delayed its completion for more than a decade.

Welcoming the development, Darjeeling MP and BJP National Spokesperson Raju Bista expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of the hills, Terai, and Dooars. “It is good to see that despite political turmoil, the engineering college has been established and is finally inaugurated today,” Bista said in a statement. He further thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Power, under which NHPC functions, for ensuring the necessary funds.

The MP also acknowledged the efforts of GTA Chairman Anit Thapa and officials for bringing the project to fruition. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji, Ministry of Power, Govt of India, for allocating Rs 40 crores towards the establishment of the Engineering College in our hills. I also congratulate and thank GTA Chairman Sh. Anit Thapa ji, and GTA officials for ensuring the completion of the Engineering College finally,” Bista said.