Work on IGNOU campus to start soon

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 18

The construction of the permanent campus of Jammu Regional Centre, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), at Rajinder Vihar in the Bantalab area is likely to start in 10-15 days, said an official.

Sources said the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) had forwarded the lease document to the Housing and Urban Development Department in September 2017 for completion of formalities after which a team of the Construction and Maintenance (C&M) Division of IGNOU, New Delhi, had visited the site.

They added that once the final decision is taken, the C&M Division is likely to entrust the construction to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) at the 14.5-kanal plot at Rajinder Vihar in the Bantalab area.

The sources said the temporary campus at the Government SPMR College of Commerce lacked space to accommodate the ever-increasing number of students. The enrolment of aspirants for programmes, diplomas and certificate courses has registered a sharp increase in the recent years. The college authorities also have urged the Regional Centre to vacate its building.

The total enrolment at IGNOU’s Jammu Regional Centre, which was around 40,000 a few years ago, has now reached almost 50,000 with a network of 66 learning centres across the region. It includes 16 regular study centres, 22 programme study centres, 24 special study centres and four jail study centres.

“The construction of the permanent campus is likely to start within 10-15 days as some procedural formalities are yet to be completed. We are also aware of the inadequate space in the temporary office at the commerce college where it is becoming difficult to accommodate the students,” an IGNOU official said.

Surge in students’ number

• The temporary campus at the Government SPMR College of Commerce lacks space to accommodate the ever-increasing number of students
• The total enrolment at IGNOU’s Jammu Regional Centre, which was around 40,000 a few years ago, has now reached almost 50,000