Union minister Jitendra Singh lays foundation stone of new building at IIA

Union Minister Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone of a new Rs 75 crore building at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics IIA, Bengaluru, which would be developed to strengthen Indias capabilities in advanced astronomy research and space science instrumentation.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone of a new Rs 75 crore building at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, which would be developed to strengthen India's capabilities in advanced astronomy research and space science instrumentation. The upcoming facility will be seven-storied with more than nearly one lakh square feet built-up area. ''The new facility will support the growing requirements of students, researchers and national missions, and strengthen India's position in cutting-edge observational science,'' said Singh. The minister added that the facility brings with it both an opportunity and a responsibility to deliver outcomes that match the scale of investment being made. He also highlighted that the IIA is a unique institution with a rich legacy and global standing in astronomy research, tracing its three centuries journey, beginning from the historic Madras Observatory. The technologies developed by the IIA are being used in ISRO and other national and international space missions.