BHUBANESWAR: The Higher Education Department is eyeing a piece of land on Utkal University premises for establishing the extended campus of the proposed Rama Devi (RD) Women’s University.
Earlier this year during its Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting, the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) had given its approval for upgrading RD Women’s College to a women’s university under Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). An area of 100 acres is required for the purpose while the college campus is located on an area of 28 acres.
Sources said the department had unofficially approached the Utkal University authorities to divert 50 acres of land from its campus area of 399.9 acres for the proposed women’s university. But Utkal University did not allow to use its land, Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy said adding that the Department would again officially approach the authorities of the State’s premier university for the purpose.
“Getting land in Utkal University will be convenient for setting up the women’s university taking the distance factor into consideration. We are also exploring possibility of taking over a Government school land located in the vicinity of RD Women’s College. Establishing the second campus for the proposed university on the outskirts of the city will not be appropriate because girls would not find it feasible to travel long distance. Hence, we are looking for land within Bhubaneswar,” said Panigrahy.
The Minister said as Utkal University will get a rural campus in around 100 acres of land at Chandikhole this year, it can divert some land on the existing campus that is lying unused. The announcement regarding rural campus for Utkal University was recently made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The Minister said while the women’s university can be opened this year on the existing college area of 28 acres, land will certainly be a problem once expansion plans for the university are made. “For the time being, an area of 28 acres is sufficient for opening an university,” he said, adding that the matter will be pursued with the State Government soon.
The RD Women’s College will get Rs 55 crore to be upgraded to university each year for a period of three years and Rs 18.3 crore has been sanctioned by the MHRD for first phase work.
Campus Map
An area of 100 acres is required for the purpose while the college campus is located on an area of 28 acres
As Utkal University will get a rural campus in around 100 acres of land at Chandikhole this year, it can divert some land on the existing campus that is lying unused
While the women’s university can be opened this year on existing college area of 28 acres, land will certainly be a problem once expansion plans for the university are made