PM Modi inaugurates Discovery Campus of IIT-Madras to meet research infrastructure demands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated Discovery Campus of Indian Institute of Techlogy Madras (IIT Madras), located at Thaiyur near Chennai, to accommodate growing research infrastructure requirements of students and faculty. PM Modi inaugurated campus virtually in presence of Goverr of Tamil Nadu Shri Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. Palaniswami and ors.

This satellite campus of IIT Madras will host state-of--art standalone Research Centres with large dedicated facilities and will have its own support infrastructure such as hostels for research scholars and fellows, common instrumentation laboratories, and conference facilities, among or amenities. "Late J. Jayalalithaa, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu had allotted 163 acres of land for IIT Madras in 2017 at Thaiyur, which is located about 36 km from main campus at Guindy," reads a press release issued by IIT-M.

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IIT-Madras Discovery Campus: Two Research Centres Planned

Two research centres have already been planned for Discovery Campus and would be operational by end of 2021. se include National Techlogy Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts, which is funded by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. It will house country’s first large (95mx65m) ‘Shallow Water Basin’ facility for coastal and estuarine research and industrial applications. This basin can emulate entire Gulf of Kutch or mouth of River Hoogly, for example. Centre will also have a 360-degree (ship’s) bridge simulator dedicated for studies involving operations at all major Indian ports.  second research centre to come up in Discovery Campus is ‘Solid Propellant Combustion Modelling Facility’ of Centre of Propulsion Techlogy, which is funded by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This Modelling Facility will be first facility to be established under Centre of Propulsion Techlogy at IIT Madras.

Discovery Campus to attract advanced research

"se research infrastructures will make Discovery Campus a magnet for most exciting advanced research being carried out anywhere, and a beehive of discovery. campus will see a steady stream of international scientists and students. Given rapidly expanding research footprint of IIT Madras, and need to create world-class research facilities quickly over next decade, satellite campus at Thaiyur has been planned primarily as a research campus. After pioneering IIT Madras Research Park established in 2010-2017, IIT Madras Discovery Campus will be next iconic facility to be created by IIT Madras," press release added.

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(Im Credit: IIT Madras)