Delhi University Plans to Expand to Six New Campuses

Planning is going on to expand Delhi University to six new campuses in Dhaka, Karkardooma, Najafgarh, Maurice Nagar and Bawana, and also add three new hostels and buildings of the Faculty of Management Studies in South Campus.

But this plan seems very ambitious as the Union Human Resource Development ministry has described the construction rates being quoted in the Rs.4, 700 crore plan as inflated. The ministry has advised DU to get funds through the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA).

In a meeting held in February of DU’s finance committee, the MHRD nominee who is also a financial advisor in the ministry had objected to the rates mentioned by the university’s building committee for construction. The construction cost that has been quoted is Rs. 70,000 per square metre with the expansion rate of the Central Institute of Education being Rs.76,327 per square metre.

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A source at the meeting said that the right price range should be between Rs.35,000-Rs.45,000 per square metre. However, a senior HRD official said that this issue is not major and it can be resolved but DU needs to seek funds from HEFA and contribute 10% of the costs over 10 years.

DU VC Yogesh Tyagi said that the estimates are being re-examined as these projects are major and are being planned after long to benefit many students. After the estimates are checked again, a fresh proposal would be put before the respective finance committee prior to getting the final approval at the Executive Council.

DU had stated in a letter to the MHRD before the February meeting that no new grants will be given for infrastructure development and all central universities will have to raise funds through HEFA for any construction activities and through grants-in-aid from MHRD or the University Grants Commission.

This is being seen as the first major development plan in 3 years but as per the finance panel, the administration made a mistake by not consulting CPWD while preparing the estimate. The MHRD nominee quoted an amount of Rs. 4.2 crore for a reading room and was thinking if this amount is for the reading room or a five-star set up.

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VK Agrawal, a finance committee member said DU should demand funds for constructing the new campuses and hostels rather than resorting to HEFA. He also asked the VC to examine the construction rates again.