Ironically, after 13 years of enactment of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) Act and 12 years after the BPUT foundation stone 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 were handed over to the university in 2014 by the construction company, there has been no major progress in construction work of other buildings which are very much essential for running up a university in proper manner.
Though the foundation stone wad laid in 2003, the actual infrastructure work was started in 2007 and it gained momentum last year only. It may be noted here that the BPUT Act was enacted in June 2002 and foundation stone of the university was laid in May 2003 by former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Chhend Colony. At that time, it was declared that in three years the construction works of the university premises will be completed.
According to the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) sources, the organization in charge of the construction of the university, 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 Rs 68.7 crore would be completed by 2016. In the third phase, Rs180 crore would be spent for construction of remaining buildings and campus development. From his statement, it is well presumed that before 2020, the completion of construction work is not possible.
The Rourkela campus of BPUT, spread over 125 acres of land, started functioning with limited facilities in 2013. The Advanced PG Studies Centre is operating its five departments with student strength of 110 in 10 PG engineering programmes, while PhD will be introduced from this year. A tender of Rs 1 crore has been floated to procure high-end equipment, said sources.
The university is also struggling with staff crisis as the Advance PG departments are being managed by only two regular faculty members 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, the BPUT would cater to the need of over 1,000 students in advanced PG courses.
The sources said presently the university has 158 constituent and affiliated colleges with total student strength of about 1.30 lakh.
Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor SS Patnaik said focus is on streamlining all the works and he had already taken up 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.
