To take up release of Rs 23.28 crore for completion of multipurpose auditorium

Tribune news Service

Chandigarh, November 21

The Board of Finance, Panjab University (PU), will discuss releasing of Rs 23.28 crore for completion of a multipurpose auditorium on the South campus in Sector 25, Chandigarh.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 72.67 crore. It has already been allocated Rs 13.16 crore out of collections from students of the PU campus as well as affiliated colleges and interest thereon. About Rs 20 crore has been allocated from university funds and was given Rs 12 crore from out of grants sanctioned by the UGC/Central Government.

PU submits that the university receives grants from various funding agencies to carry out specific research projects or schemes or programmes under plan head. Prior to 2001-02, both accounts, non-pan and plan were transacted through a single bank account with a corresponding one cash book. In 2001-02, a separate bank account with corresponding separate cash book was opened for the plan account. A specific amount was transferred from the non-plan account to this newly opened separate bank account. Further in 2006-07, another account was opened in Canara Bank to carry out the transactions relating to plan grant from UGC.

PU has proposed BoF for allocation out of balance available under plan account.

From the financial year 2016-17, the Central Government has dispensed with the system of non-plan and plan and introduced the concept of revenue and capital budget.

Now, after excluding the balances of each sponsored research project or scheme along with accrued interest up to March 31, 2017, an amount of Rs 29.62 crore is available. Whereas up to March 31, 2016, the amount was Rs 23.28 crore, which is an accumulated plan account balance of PU and interest thereon since 2001-02 onwards.

Details of multipurpose hall

• Seating capacity: 2,500.
• Main auditorium with three small seminar halls having a capacity of 130-600 each.
• Total area covered: 1.4 lakh sq ft. Basement is of 20,971 sq ft to house DG sets and AC plants. 
• The project also includes dining area, parking area, approach roads, electric sub-station, power back up, AC plant, elevators, fire-fighting system, CCTV cameras.
• Current status: The RCC structure work of the main auditorium and front portion has been completed.
• The truss roofing of both areas is in process. The expenditure incurred up to date is Rs 23.83 crore.