Mangaluru : Laxmi Memorial Education Trust, which is running a host of educational institutions, has got approval from the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to start an engineering college in the city.

It is said, A.J. College of Engineering and Technology would start functioning from the 2016-17 academic year on its premises in Kottara and offer degree courses in mechanical engineering, computer science and engineering, civil engineering, electronics and communication engineering and information science and engineering.

The trust, headed by A.J. Shetty, is already running various institutions.

The release said A.J. Institute of Engineering and Technology is the first such institute being located within Mangaluru city, at Kottara Chowki.

Shantharam Rai, who has guided about seven Ph. D students and an accomplished academician, would head the institute.

He was also a member Ph. D candidate selection, examination and local inspection committees of Visvesvaraya Technological University.