Patna: The process of land acquisition for a permanent campus of the new Indian Institute of Technology, Patna (IIT-P), where classes began in temporary premises on August 7, will soon be underway, a senior minister told sources on Sunday.

Around 500 acres near Bihta, about 30 km from here, would be acquired for the permanent campus, Minister for Science and Technology Shahid Ali Khan said.

"Land for IIT-Patna has been identified at Bihta. The process of acquisition would begin soon," he said.

Bihar's Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA) has already sought money to start the land acquisition process.

"The Government is doing everything possible to create infrastructure for the new IIT. The permanent campus will be a reality in the next two to three years," Khan said.

A few months ago, the government decided to shift the location of the IIT from Sikandrapur on Bihta-Bhojpur road to Amhara on Bihta-Aurangabad Road.

The decision came after an IIT-Roorkee team said the Sikandrapur area was prone to waterlogging.

Gautam Barua, director of IIT-Guwahati, the mentor of IIT-P, earlier this month offered all help to the new institute till it gets its own staff and a full-fledged director.

Speaking to IIT-P students in an orientation programme on August 6, Barua said IIT-G may fare low in the all-India ranking, but it was more experienced in setting up new institutes.

"I am confident that gradually we will be able to bring it at par with others. This institute has to become independent. By September, we will have staff belonging to IIT-Patna and a regular director will also be appointed in the next two months. Till such time, IIT-Guwahati will continue to support it in all possible ways," Barua said.

India currently has seven IITs, with another eight proposed to be set up over the next few years. Of these, six will begin functioning during the current academic session.

Besides Bihar, IITs will be be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

IIT-P dean Samrendra Dandpat said as promised, the formal functioning of the institute started on time.

All 98 students from different parts of the country, studying in mechanical, electrical and computer engineering streams, have been attending classes from August 7.

Earlier this year, the state's Science and Technology Department identified a polytechnic in Patna as the temporary campus for the IIT. The polytechnic has two hostels and a new building, which can accommodate around 200 students.

The formal inauguration of IIT-P was deferred reportedly due to the illness of Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Arjun Singh. IANS