The authorities of IIT-Jammu are in a fix following instructions of HRD ministry that have asked six IITs to finish the construction of new campus within the scheduled time. The campus of IIT-Jammu is planned to come up at Jagti in Nagrota.

Earlier, the union cabinet had approved a loan of Rs. 7,002-crore on October 24, 2017 for the construction of six new IITs namely Dharwad (Karnataka), Jammu (J&K), Goa, and Chattisgarh. The deadline for this was March 31, 2020.      

However, it is unlikely that the institution may meet the deadline. Due to the slow pace of the project, local students prefer other engineering institutes outside the state. Harjot Singh from Jammu said, “I have cracked IIT-JEE main exam with good marks. But I have opted for Delhi Technological University (DTU) because of better infrastructure and future prospects.”

He further added that an IIT in Jammu and Kashmir was an added advantage for students. But, taking admission there is risking the future due to lack of infrastructural facilities. The construction of a permanent campus is yet to begin at the institute and even the transit camps are incomplete. A full-fledged IIT campus in the state is still a dream in the state, he added.