Established at Shibpur, just opposite Calcutta, The Bengal Engineering and Science University, is the second oldest engineering college in India in existence. It was formally established as Civil Engineering College, Calcutta, way back in 1856 with the idea of introducing engineering education in the country.

Historical roots

It has had a long and checkered past. Initially known as Bishop's College, Bengal Engineering College came to be known as Calcutta Civil Engineering College from 24th November, 1856, when there were only 10 students and a few instructive staff. From 12th February, 1920, the name was changed to B.E. College Shibpur. The word Shibpur was deleted from 24th March, 1921.

From 1865 to 1879 the College functioned as Civil Engineering Department of Presidency College, Kolkata. In 1880 the college shifted to it's new and permanent home the lush campus at Bishop's College, Howrah. It got its name, Bengal Engineering College in 1921.

From May 1857 to 1992, it was a constituent college of the University of Calcutta. In recognition of its services to the nation, the college was elevated to the status of a Deemed University in 1992. The then President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, formally inaugurated the University on March 13, 1993. On 1st October, 2004, Bengal Engineering College (A Deemed University) was elevated to the status of a full-fledged University with its present name.

Location

The University is located in the sylvan surrounding on the western bank of the river Hooghly, opposite the city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), which is connected by transportation to all the major Indian cities as well as to some foreign ones by rail transport and air routes and also by the Golden Quadrangle Road Network presently nearing completion. The nearest railway station is Howrah, which is six kilometres from the University Campus and the Airport is at a distance of thirty kilometres from the Main Gate of the campus.

Trivia

In the year 1996, it celebrated its 140 th anniversary of its birth.

Every year students from this premier institution form the creme_de_la_creme of administration, management and technocracy, both in the Public & Private sector corporations in India.

Website

• Official webpage (http://www.becs.ac.in)