The batch of 1989 of Bengal Engineering College, now IIEST, has raised Rs 30 lakh to develop a volleyball court on the Shibpur campus.
The court has been set up at the south-west corner of the ground named Lord’s. The campus has two grounds — Oval and Lord’s.
The idea to gift the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology a volleyball court was floated when the batch of ’89 had held a reunion in 2019 on the occasion of the 30th year of their graduation.
Chinmoy Jana, the convener of REUNION 30 of the batch, said they decided to develop a volleyball court following consultations with the IIEST authorities.
“The former students based in other countries and in India chipped in with their contribution and the court is ready. We will soon hand over the facility to the institute,” said Jana, who had completed BTech in mechanical engineering.
The facility would have been developed last year had there been no pandemic.
The court has been developed in accordance with the technical specifications set by the Sports Authority of India and International Volleyball Federation, said an alumnus.
The basic playing court size measures 18mX9m. The overall court size, including the mandatory free playing area, measures 24mX15m. The enclosed area measures 24mX17m.
The 1.5m concrete pedestal all around the enclosed playing area has been covered with paver tiles. Work is under way to install flood lights.
The idea to gift the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology a volleyball court was floated when the batch of ’89 had held a reunion in 2019 on the occasion of the 30th year of their graduation.
“We want the volleyball court to be opened once all students return to the campus following resumption of in-person classes,” said Chaitali Roy, who had graduated in civil engineering.
Some of the alumni hoped that the renovation of the Lords’ ground would start with the inauguration of the volleyball court.
“The condition of the ground is not what it should be. We hope the launch of the facility will lead to better upkeep of the iconic ground,” he said.
Konika Das, a professor of electrical engineering at the IIEST who had graduated from then BE College in 1989, said there was a need for adding a sport facility as the number of students had increased following the upgrade of the institute.
In 1989, the institute was known as Bengal Engineering College, a government institution. Later, it became a state university.
In 2014, it was rechristened IIEST.
“Since becoming a central academic institute, the flow of students from outside the state has increased. They needed an additional sporting facility and we are proud to provide that,” said Das.
IIEST director Parthasarathi Chakrabarti said: “The gesture by the batch of ’89 will inspire alumni of other batches to give it back to their alma mater. We have plans to renovate the Lord’s ground.”
Bivore Das, an assistant registrar of IIEST, said alumni of another batch had earlier gifted a basketball court to the campus.
