ROURKELA: Nearly 12 years after the foundation stone for Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) was laid, the university campus is yet to be ready to operate to its full potential.
Other than the administrative block which was completed in 2013 and the Centre for PG Advance Studies and Student Complex which was handed over to the university in 2014, there has been no major progress in construction work of other buildings.
Though infrastructure work was started in 2007, it gained momentum last year. The BPUT Act was enacted in 2002 and foundation stone of the university laid in May 2003 by former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Chhend Colony.
Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) sources said three years were lost over dispute on design of the campus. Presently, work is underway for faculty quarters, hostels for boys and girls, library-cum-computer centre, Vice-Chancellor’s residence, multi-activity centre and compound wall.
IDCO Divisional Manager SC Sahani said these under-construction projects estimated at `68.7 crore would be completed by 2016. In the third phase, `180 crore would be spent for construction of remaining buildings and campus development.
The Rourkela campus of BPUT, spread over 134 acres, started functioning with limited facilities from 2013. The Advanced PG Studies Centre is operating its five departments with a student strength of 110 in 10 PG engineering programmes while PhD will be introduced from this year. A tender of ` one crore has been floated to procure high-end equipment.
The university is also struggling with staff crisis as the Advance PG departments are being managed by only two regular faculty and 23 Resource Persons on a consolidated pay. Sources said scrutiny of applications for appointment of 23 regular professors and associate professors is in progress. On becoming fully functional, BPUT would cater to above 1000 students in advanced PG courses.
The sources said BPUT has 158 constituent and affiliated colleges with a total student strength of about 1.30 lakh.
Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor SS Patnaik said focus is on streamlining all the works and he would shortly discuss the campus development issues with top Government officials.
Patnaik said plans are also afoot to set up a Centre of Excellence in Tribal and Women Welfare Technology. About the extension centre of BPUT at Bhubaneswar, Patnaik said it would be equipped with software development entrepreneurship programme, international collaborative programme and skill development on “Internet of Things” and also act as a hub for faculty development programme and finishing school for students.