In a landmark moment for education in the Eastern Himalayas, the Darjeeling Hills is all set to welcome its first-ever engineering college. The Darjeeling Hill Institute of Technology and Management (DHITM), located in Takdah, will be formally inaugurated on August 27, 2025, marking a significant step forward in expanding access to technical education in the region. This much-awaited initiative is being spearheaded by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) under the leadership of its Chief Executive, Anit Thapa.
What makes this development particularly historic is that DHITM will be the first technical degree college in West Bengal established through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. The project is a joint collaboration between the GTA’s Department of Education and Department of Engineering, while its day-to-day management is entrusted to the Orissa Child Welfare and Education Trust (OCWET)—an organization with a proven track record in managing educational institutions. The financial backbone of this institution has been provided by NHPC Ltd., which has supported the initiative as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts.The college has received official approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and is affiliated with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), West Bengal. With the launch of DHITM, students from the Darjeeling Hills and neighbouring areas will no longer need to travel far to pursue technical degrees. The institution aims to offer a range of undergraduate programs in engineering and management, while also promoting a culture of innovation, inclusion, and academic excellence. By bridging the education gap in hill regions, this initiative is expected to have a long-lasting impact on youth empowerment, skill development, and local economic growth.
