India's first textile university to come up at Surat

The state government will provide about Rs 800-900 crore for the university, which is expected to be operational in the next one and a half years

Gujarat government is planning to set up India's first textile university at Surat with an investment of about Rs 800 crore - Rs 900 crore.

The textile industry will support the government in the endeavour.The state government will fund about Rs 800-900 crore for the university, which is expected to get operational in the next one and a half years.

The aim of the university is to provide all kind of support including technology, research and development (R&D), skilled manpower etc.

"The first textile university of India will be setup in Gujarat. Land has been identified near Surat. Gujarat government will provide funds worth Rs 800-900 crore for the development of the textile university," said Chandan Chatterjee, director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), a government of Gujarat organisation.

Purpose of the university will be to create a complete eco system for the textile industry in Gujarat and India. It will guide the government in policy making for the industry.

Chatterjee said: "Our aim is not to just fulfill academic requirements of textile industry. This will serve in a many ways like support in R&D, policy making skill manpower training and all. For that we will tie up with various centres of excellence and other national and international institutes as per the requirements."

The university will build on over 250 acre land in Surat and it is expected to get operational in the next one and a half years.

"Construction work for the university will start in early phase of next year and it will be operational in one and a half years," said Chatterjee.