Addressing a news conference at his camp office in the evening, Dr Reddy termed the new university and the medical and engineering colleges for the upliftment of higher education as the "Dussera gift to the people of the state, more particularly those in Telangana."

He said that the government would provide the funds for the establishment of these institutions and the construction work would be started immediately. He said that the government would make efforts to see that these institutions start functioning from the next academic year.

He explained that presently, each of the three regions of the state -- Telangana, coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema -- has three universities each, including one university set up in each region earlier in 2006.

The new universities included Telangana University at Nizamabad, Nannayya University at Rajahmundry and Yogi Vemana University at Kadapa.

"Osmania University was established in the pre-Independence days. Kakatiya University was set up later. After we came to power, we started the Telangana University at Nizamabad. Now, to facilitate the affiliation of colleges in Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts, we are starting a university near Bhoodan Pochampally in Nalgonda district.

He pointed out that the state presently has 32 medical colleges -- 11 in government sector and 21 in the private sector. Except Adilabad, Srikakulam and Prakasam, all other districts have at least one medical college each -- either government or private. "Now, we are establishing new medical colleges in the uncovered districts," he said.

He said that the constituent engineering colleges under Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University were prestigious institutions. The government started a JNTU Engineering college at Kadapa in 2005. "Now, we are establishing JNTU engineering colleges in Karimnagar and Vizianagaram districts," he added.

The Chief Minister said that the new medical colleges would be functioning as autonomous institutions on the lines of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, which was inaugurated by Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] recently.

Asked if these medical colleges would be constructed in a record time like RIMS, which was completed in 14 months, he said the government was considering the construction of these new institutions at the earliest. He said the cost of the new University, three medical colleges and two engineering colleges would be worked out soon.

"The government is trying to avoid the difficulties in recruitment of faculty in the existing government colleges by giving them autonomy," he said.

He said that the vice-chancellors of Telangana University and the other two new universities at Kadapa and Rajahmundry would be appointed within the next two to three days.

Higher and technical education minister Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao and health and finance minister K Rosaiah were present at the press conference.