A decade later, IIT Tirupati firmly ensconced in the saddle!

A view of the Yerpedu campus of Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A decade is too short a period to judge the growth parameters of any institute of national importance, but the nascent Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati (IIT-T) has come a long way in finding its feet.

Established on March 28, 2015 and academic schedule started on August 5 the same year, the institute started its journey from a temporary premises on Renigunta Road.

A decade later, IIT Tirupati is now firmly ensconced in the saddle at its 548-acre permanent campus at Yerpedu to accommodate 12,000 students, thus getting ready for the march ahead to shape future technocrats and disseminate knowledge through cutting-edge research and industry collaboration.

The 35-acre south campus started with essential laboratories, hostels, classrooms and sports facilities and was completed by 2018 using prefab and sustainable technologies. With an initial intake of 106 students across four B. Tech programs — Civil, CSE, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering in 2015 — it started to offer Chemical Eengineering in 2018, and launched M.S. (by research) and PhD in 2017, M. Tech course was started in 2018, which is now available in 11 specialised areas. In 2022, the institute diversified its curricula to introduce a master’s program in Public Policy, becoming only the third IIT in India to offer this course.

Syncing with nature

In tune with the Prime Minister’s call to ‘Catch the rain where it falls, when it falls’, the campus has two lakes spanning 10 acres, with an 80 million litre holding capacity for rainwater harvesting. The robust water management system includes a 600 KLD water treatment plant, two sewage treatment plants and a micro-irrigation system utilising 100% recycled water.

The energy infrastructure includes a 1 MW rooftop solar installation, a centralised cooling system with water-and-air cooled chillers. IIT Tirupati’s sustainable practices have earned it a Four-Star GRIHA LD rating and numerous national and international awards, including CPWD’s ‘Best Completed Project Award 2024’.

The sprawling campus boasts of 5,250 native tree saplings, 1,10,000 flowering shrubs and a biodiversity plantation of 260 medicinal plant varieties native to the Seshachalam hill ranges. “These efforts enhance biodiversity, conserve local heritage and create a visually pleasing, eco-friendly environment,” says IIT-T Director K.N. Satyanarayana.

Faculty is strength

Intending to derive strength from its dedicated manpower, IIT-T roped in the top-tier faculty, currently comprising 139 members with diverse expertise, who have made a mark in education, research and innovation, attracting premier Indian and global corporations for collaborations and placements.

The faculty has published over 1,266 research works and undertaken 203 sponsored projects worth ₹186.02 crore and 209 consultancy projects valued at ₹24.32 crore. Similarly, the institute has established strategic partnerships with 50 universities, research institutes and industry leaders.