Gorakhpur: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday will inaugurate eastern Uttar Pradesh’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Maharana Pratap Institute of Technology (MPIT), developed in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).Chairman of Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran, is also expected to be present at the event.Set up at a cost of around Rs50 crore, the CoE has been designed as a world-class facility to train students in emerging technologies. The complex houses dedicated centres for artificial intelligence (AI), drone technology, space technology, cybersecurity and 3D printing, along with integrated academic programmes.According to institute officials, Rs19.35 crore has been spent on infrastructure, Rs2.40 crore on furnishings, Rs9.56 crore on AI facilities, Rs6.19 crore on cybersecurity, Rs6.79 crore on 3D printing, Rs2.09 crore on space technology and Rs1.84 crore on drone technology.The inauguration will also mark the launch of a 60-day ‘AI Awareness for All’ training workshop, which aims to set a world record in participation.The programme will cover generative AI tools, prompting, responsible AI use, cyber hygiene, fraud prevention and digital safety practices. A parallel module focused on farmers will include AI in agriculture, weather-based crop planning and digital farming tools.MPIT director Sudhir Agrawal said the facility is equipped with advanced labs to promote innovation, skill development and startups, thereby enhancing employability.The CoE will serve not only MPIT students but also those from 15 AICTE-approved technical institutions across eastern UP, including Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, Government Polytechnic Gorakhpur and NIELIT Gorakhpur centre, among others.
