CoEs in Urban Transport planned

Driven by the need to conduct further research under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the urban development ministry will set up at least five Centres of Excellence in Urban Transport (CEUT) across premier institutions.

The ministry has invited proposals to set up such CEUTs from 11 institutions including all the seven IITs, IIM- Ahmedabad, IIM-Bangalore, NIT-Warangal, Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad, and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA).

"Given the growth and importance in urban transport under the JNNURM, the ministry has felt a need to set up centres of excellence at these institutions. At least five such centres will be set up after finalising on the proposals sent by the 11 institutions," said HM Shivanand Swamy, associate director at CEPT, Ahmedabad. Proposals for the same are to be submitted with the ministry by month-end, added Swamy.

Apart from studies, these CEUTs will also conduct training programmes to support Centre, state and local activities in urban transport.

"To facilitate the training, our institute is initiating a fresh postgraduate programme in urban transport under the faculty of planning and public policy. The course is not only for students from architecture and engineering background but also for sponsored officials of Centre, state and local bodies," said RN Vakil, director, CEPT. Vakil added that the format of the CEUTs is yet to be ascertained and probably the entire funding would be borne by the Centre.

Meanwhile, the institute will also be initiating a fresh postgraduate programme in Technology Management under the newly formed Faculty of Applied Management. Both the postgraduate programmes will have an intake of 15-25 students, said Vakil.