Amritsar, August 20
Outsiders visiting the serene and pollution-free campus of Guru Nanak Dev (GND) University here for morning and evening walks will now have to pay an annual fee.
University’s Public Relations Director R.P. Sobti said morning walkers would have to pay a token fee of Rs 120. However, those who want to use the campus for walks both in morning and evening would be charged Rs 240.
“This has been done only for outsiders and to discourage unwanted elements from entering the campus. The security angle has been borne in mind,” Mr Sobti said. He added that the university was charging only a nominal fee whereas Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, was charging Rs 50 per month from walkers.
However, people who have been frequenting the GND campus for their daily walks for years are resenting the move.
Veteran Communist leader Satyapal Dang has written to Vice-Chancellor Jai Rup Singh, urging him to reconsider the decision since the number of walkers visiting the campus was not too large.
Several other daily walkers said they would stop going to the campus altogether if they were charged.
One walker said the university was an ideal place for walking as other areas of the holy city were polluted and crowded. The university is situated on the busy GT road, which leads to Wagah border check point with Pakistan.
The highway remains busy with the movement of vehicles and cannot be used by walkers.
Some academics residing on the campus felt that the introduction of a fee was a good move and would avoid overcrowding on the campus.
— IANS
