PATNA, Sept. 28 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the third phase of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Patna's infrastructure development project via video conferencing. The third phase of IIT-Patna's expansion involves a massive investment of Rs.644.53 crore to develop approximately 1,26,000 square metres of state-of-the-art facilities. This ambitious project is being financed through the Higher Education Financing Agency. Key components of the third phase include the construction of a cutting-edge research park and central research facilities, innovative academic buildings focused on entrepreneurship, hostels accommodating 2,000 male and 500 female students, an international hostel with 250 seats, hostel for married students (studio apartment), residential quarters for faculty and staff, along with various important structures. Set up in 2008, IIT-Patna was the first national institution of its stature to be set up in Bihar after Nitish Kumar-led NAtional Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in 2005. Bihar government had provided 500 acres of land for the institution. In a short span of time, IIT-- Patna established itself as a prestigious institution. In this year's NIRF ranking, IIT was the only institution from Bihar featuring in the top 100 of the overall ranking of the National Institutional Framework Ranking (NIRF). It was also ranked 39th in the list of top 100 research institutions, while in the list of engineering institutions, it was ranked 19th. IIT-P improved its position significantly from 2024 - from 73rd to 36th position. In this year's Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sithamraman had announced in the Union Budget plans to expand the IIT (Patna) by developing additional infrastructure. IIT-Patna Director TN Singh expressed gratitude to the PM and the Ministry of Education for the expansion project....