PU sends proposal for 64-acre campus at Sarangpur

Panjab University has submitted another proposal to the UT administration for setting up its third campus at Sarangpur on the city's outskirts.

A top PU official told HT that, according to the revised proposal, 64 acres of land have been sought for the new campus. This includes 33 acres for developing an academic block, 15 acres for integrated facilities, four acres for ancillary facilities and 12 acres for open spaces, the official added.

The new proposal has been submitted recently after the administration expressing its inability to provide 180 acres that the varsity had asked for last year.

"We have made certain changes in the new proposal, but a minimum of 64 acres will be needed," the official said, adding the new campus would not be as spacious PU's Sector 14 and Sector 25 campuses due to paucity of land.

According to the plan, the varsity is to expand the University Business School in 8 acres of land of the new campus, set up an interdisciplinary science centre housing the physical sciences, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences and other departments spread over 12 acres, while the Chandigarh Region Innovative Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) will be spread over eight acres. An advanced social sciences centre of is also proposed, for which five acres have been sought.

Sources said the the integrated facilities will have transit accommodation, two hostels each for men and women and two hostels for postdoctoral fellows- one each for men and women. As part of ancillary facilities, a health centre, school and crèche are also proposed to be set up on four acres of land.

Total area proposed for campus: 64 acre
Academic block-33 acres
Integrated facilities-15 acres
Ancillary facilities -4 acres
Open spaces-12 acre