Bhopal: Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister, Arjun Singh laid the foundation stone of the School of Planning & Architecture (SPA) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) here today.

The Central Government had sanctioned the setting up of two new Schools of Planning & Architecture (SPAs) at Bhopal and Vijayawada at a cost of over Rs.3.48 million.

"The SPA at Bhopal will not only cater to the growing demand of architects and planners, but also promote research in these fields", an official from the HRD Ministry said.

The SPA at Bhopal, to be setup at an estimated cost of Rs.174.25 crores, would offer Bachelor's and Master's programmes as well as Doctoral and Post-Doctoral programmes in the fields of architecture and planning.

The IISER at Bhopal is the fourth in the series established by the Centre, other three being located at Pune, Kolkata and Mohali. The fifth IISER has been established at Thiruvananthapuram along with the one at Bhopal.

The classes of the first batch of students of the M.S. programme at IISER Bhopal started from August 18, 2008 in a transit campus of the Industrial Training Institute (Gas Rahat).

The permanent campus will come up at Bhaunri, 13 kms from the Bhopal airport.