Kakinada: The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Kakinada is planning to introduce 12 new M.Tech. and two new B.Tech. courses with an aim to 'modernize and improve the varsity's academic ambience'.

The varsity has also proposed to start an MBA (Technology Management) and Master of Science (Materials) course along with the new M.Tech. and B.Tech. courses.

Vice Chancellor of the varsity, Prof. Allam Appa Rao has written to the Principal Secretary of Higher Education Ashutosh Mishra looking for his permission to start the new courses.

Detailed reports of the project have already been sent to the Principal Secretary seeking his approval.

The new courses proposed by the varsity include Environment & Watershed Management, Infrastructure Engineering & Construction Management, Modern Power Drives, Advanced Insulation Systems, Agricultural Engineering, Energy Systems, Signal Processing & Communications Technology, VLSI & Embedded Systems, Advanced Computer Systems & Technologies, Information Technology, Bio-Technology and Bioinformatics.

Metallurgical Engineering and Petrochemical Engineering will be introduced in B.Tech.

JNTU Kakinada recently introduced the M.E. (Nuclear Engineering) course with renowned scientist J.S. Rao as its programme advisor, thus becoming the first university in Andhra Pradesh to start a course in Nuclear Engineering.