The long pending demand of Delhi University (DU) students appears to be bearing fruit as DU administration is planning to construct two hostels in North and South Campus with '400 bed capacity with double accommodation'. DU is also going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). Besides, there is also a pact to preserve the century old DU Central Library as a 'Heritage' building.
The central library was started in 1922 with a collection 1380 gifted books. During the first decade of its existence it functioned from shifting locale. After some years, it was shifted to the present locations Art faculty in 1950.
Apart from hostels, DU has also planned to construct a fully 'digitised Academic block' at Maurice Nagar. As per the officials, one hostel with double accommodation facility will be constructed at Mukherjee Nagar. While, the site for the South Campus hostel is yet to be finalised.
The CPWD will be the executing agency of the project and the estimated budget cost is around Rs 200 crore. As per the officials, the cost of academic block will be Rs 90 crore, while Rs 20 crore is estimated for the construction of hostel building in Mukherjee Nagar and around Rs 9 crore for the re-development of DU central library.
"DU planning hostels in both South and North Campus. The library will be renovated and preserved, further adding another block is in plan. Besides, a digital academic block that being considered and the plan is to construct digital smart class rooms, seminar halls and auditorium. The academic block will be used for teaching purpose only. The block will be completely constructed with digital and world class technology for instance, the if a political science department want to use the smart classrooms and seminar for a day, it should pre-book or check online for availability and separate team will be appointed to look after the block," said Tarun Das, Registrar, DU adding the plans are yet to be final as the university is working on more interesting plans and to come up with new technology for the students.
"The project is final but the plans are in initial stage with many formalities to be done. Permissions need to be sought from environment department for felling trees, budget sanctions are also need to be finalised, final building plans and many other works are there before beginning the project," added Das.
Currently, there are only 17 hostels in DU with a capacity of 3,215, and one at university with a capacity of 630, for undergraduate course students. The total number of 1,89,653 undergraduate, 26,910 postgraduate students, including M.Phil./Ph.D. students and 6,948 in Certificate/Diploma/PG Diploma students enrolled are enrolled in DU.
