"AICTE has given its nod to start six government engineering colleges and 10 polytechnic colleges in the state from the current academic year," Bihar Science and Technology minister Jai Kumar Singh told reporters here.
The decision to open 16 technical institutions is a part of Nitish Kumar-led Grand Secular Alliance government's 'Saat Nischay' (Seven resolves) that promised one engineering and one polytechnic college in every district in the next five years, Singh said.
The minister said the six new engineering colleges would start their courses in Begusarai, Madhepura, Sasaram, Katihar, Sitamarhi and Bakhtiarpur.
These colleges would offer engineering courses in the steams of Computer science, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Electronics and Electrical.
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Similarly, 10 polytechnic colleges would be opened at Kaimur, Gopalganj, Munger, Jamui, Tekari in Gaya, Sheikhpura, Raghopur in Supaul, Banka, Madhepura and Samastipur, he said.
Courses which would be taught in these polytechnic colleges include Mechanical, Civil, Electronics, Electrical.
Bihar cuts a sorry figure so far as the number of engineering and polytechnic colleges are concerned.
An official said neighbouring Uttar Pradesh has 423 engineering and 461 polytechnic colleges whereas Bihar has altogether 29 engineering colleges and 62 polytechnic colleges, both private and government.
Going by Bihar's population, which is around 10 per cent of the country's population, it should have 447 engineering colleges and 435 polytechnic colleges, the official said.