Panjab University south campus student centre project hanging fire
The construction of much-awaited Student Centre to cater to more than 5,000 students on the Sector 25 campus of Panjab University, which was introduced on paper in 2022, is still in the pipeline. But the pace of project is slow and is awaiting formal approval from the Chandigarh Administration.
The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee had approved the master plan for revamp south campus on August 8, but a final nod is yet to arrive, after which, the blueprint will be tabled before the university building committee. According to a university official, the non-utilised chunk of land in front of Girls Hostel No. 8 has been designated for the project.
As per the estimates, the infrastructure will be established at a total cost of about Rs 10 crore by the university, with Rs 7.99 crore to come from an amalgamated fund and Rs 2 crore from the student holiday home fund. “The design of the student centre has been prepared. The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee had also given a go-ahead to the project sometimes ago. As of now, we are in wait to get a formal nod from the UT Administration, after which the plan will be tabled before the buildings committee,” said a senior PU official.
The demand for a student centre on the lines of the Student Centre on the Sector 14 campus has always been raised by the students. The issue has also been part of poll agenda of many student organisations on the campus. “It has been long since we heard that a Student Centre will be established here, but we do not see anything happening on the ground. Student leaders come to us with promises during elections, litter the department with stickers only to never pay heed to the demands for another year,” said a final-year student of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, which had over 2,500 votes in the student council polls held recently.
The Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Renu Vig, said, “We are working to provide students with more facilities on the Sector 25 campus of the university. Hopefully, the work shall start soon.”
