New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS): As many as 54 new central schools would be opened across 17 states of the country.

The approval for opening of the new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) was given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at a meeting here Friday.

These 54 KVs would be located in 53 districts of the 17 states, an official release said here.

The total cost of opening of these new KVs is projected at Rs.9.2 billion. The non-recurring costs covering constructions cost, furniture and fixtures will be Rs.7.9 billion and recurring cost covering pay and allowance and other expenses will be Rs.1.3 billion.

These new KVs when fully functional will provide quality education to approximately 54,000 students in addition to 1,200,000 students already studying in the present central schools.

The main objective of the schools is to cater to the educational needs of children of transferable central government employees, including defence and para-military personnel, by providing a common programme of education, the release said.

There are at present 1,094 functional Kendriya Vidyalayas including three in Moscow, Kathmandu and Tehran.