Central varsity gets Rs 157 cr for new academic blocks

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 16

The Central University of Jammu (CUJ) today said it had received an allocation of Rs 157 crore for the construction of new academics blocks on its permanent campus in Raya Suchani, Bagla area, Samba district.

The university authorities also claimed that all classes, which were currently being conducted from rented accommodations, would be started from the permanent buildings coming up on the campus from the next academic session.

“After three years of strenuous efforts, we have received an allocation of Rs 157 crore for the construction of new academic blocks. We are hopeful of starting all classes from permanent blocks from the next academic session, which are presently being conducted at rented accommodations,” Prof Ashok Aima, CUJ Vice Chancellor, told reporters here.

Flanked by university Registrar Ravi Kumar and head of mass communication and new media department Govind Singh, the VC said the work on the road connecting the university campus with the Jammu-Pathankot highway had also begun and was expected to be completed by December-end.

Pertinently, the administration had admitted that the university floated tenders for projects worth Rs 486 crore against the financial allocation of just Rs 322 crore in 2013, leading to a financial mess that forced the University Grants Commission (UGC) to stop its funds for the developmental activities.

The original budget estimates for establishing the university campus in Bagla village were of Rs 690 crore, which were revised to Rs 1,087.72 crore. The main campus of the university is to come up over a vast area of over 600 acres.

Talking about the first-ever convocation, the VC said the university would hold the event at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium of the University of Jammu on March 18 where Noble Laureate and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama would be the chief guest.

“The decision of inviting His Holiness Dalai Lama to the convocation has been taken in view of the prevailing instability in J&K. He has been awarded with the Noble Prize for peace and there is a dire need for peace and stability in the state,” Prof Aima added.

“We have 65 per cent girls and 35 per cent boys enrolled in 45 courses being offered by the university,” the VC said, adding that “in a short span of around 6.5 years, the university has been successful in filling more than 75 per cent of its approved faculty positions.”