Agartala, October 15:
Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on Thursday urged students to develop innovative technological solutions to real-world problems and stressed that the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Agartala, should be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony at Sidhai, Mohanpur, in West Tripura, Nallu said students must become creators of technology rather than merely its users, particularly amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), data science and cybersecurity.
The proposed campus, spread over around 50 acres, involves an investment of Rs 128 crore, Parliamentary Affairs, Agriculture and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said at the event, attended by Minister of State Brisaketu Debbarma and IIIT Agartala Director Abhay Kumar.
“First, what problem of Tripura will you solve? Second, what technology will you create?” the Governor asked students, encouraging them to identify local challenges and develop solutions with wider applications.
He described a campus as more than a collection of buildings, saying it should foster curiosity, critical thinking, research and innovation.
Reddy also urged researchers to learn from unsuccessful experiments, noting that studying failures could provide valuable insights for future research.
Congratulating students and faculty members on their achievements in the Google Summer of Code, Walmart Codeathon 2025 and international open-source mentorship programmes, Nallu said their participation demonstrated the institute’s technical capabilities and innovative spirit.
The Governor also emphasised timely execution of infrastructure projects, observing that administrative hurdles and minor issues sometimes delay centrally funded projects despite substantial financial allocations. He expressed hope that construction would proceed according to schedule, enabling students to access an improved academic environment.
Earlier, Nath described the foundation stone-laying ceremony as a transition from the institute’s initial phase to a permanent institutional base.
He said the Rs 128-crore project should be viewed not merely as expenditure on infrastructure but as an investment in students, entrepreneurship, society and Tripura’s future economy.
The Minister urged students to pursue ambitious goals while developing communication skills, leadership qualities and ethical values alongside technical expertise. He said technological advancement must be accompanied by human values and social responsibility to build a developed society.
Nath expressed hope that the institution would nurture entrepreneurs, scientists, professors and industry leaders, with graduates potentially establishing businesses in Tripura and generating employment.
IIIT Agartala began its academic journey in the 2018-19 academic year from the campus of NIT Agartala. The proposed permanent campus will include an academic block, separate student hostels, staff accommodation, a library, classrooms, and computer and electronics laboratories. The planned hostel facilities will accommodate 316 students.
