Upgrade project on hold, DAVV shifts focus to repairing existing buildings

Time of India

a day ago

Indore: Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya's (DAVV) much-awaited infrastructure expansion on the Takshashila campus has hit yet another pause, as the university has shifted its focus from constructing new buildings to maintaining and optimising its existing ones.
The Rs 153-crore project, which was approved last year as part of the varsity's Vision 2030 plan, is now stuck in repeated reviews.
Vice-chancellor Prof Rakesh Singhai said the decision was made after closely inspecting the current state of university facilities. "After visiting all departments, I noticed that the existing buildings are not being maintained. Some walls are damaged, and certain departments operate from very old structures that need urgent repairs.
We have shifted our priority to maintaining these first," he told TOI.
Prof Singhai also highlighted underutilised spaces as a major concern. "Many departments have extra rooms being used as storehouses for old files, papers, and even electronic waste. We plan to clear such spaces and use them productively. Terrace areas can also be repurposed, reducing the need for entirely new constructions. The focus is now on making the most of our current infrastructure," added the VC.
The varsity's Takshashila campus upgrade, planned last year in collaboration with the Indore Development Authority (IDA), aimed to construct new buildings for four major teaching departments: the International Institute of Professional Studies (Rs 31 crore), School of Law (Rs 8 crore), School of Economics (Rs 19 crore), and School of Social Sciences (Rs 11 crore). The expansion would have doubled classroom capacity for some departments and added over 15,000 square metres of academic space.
Additional plans included a Rs 23-crore Central Research Instrumentation Center under the PM Usha Scheme, housing the IT Centre and Data Science Department, a Rs 2.5-crore 300-seat auditorium, and a Rs 2.7-crore administrative block at the Nalanda campus.
The previous administration under former VC Prof Renu Jain decided to execute Rs 99 crore of the works through IDA, with the rest handled by other agencies. Funding was to come from fixed deposits worth Rs 57 crore from IIPS, Rs 25 crore from other departments, and Rs 15 crore from the PM Usha Scheme.
However, the tendering process was halted by Prof Singhai with a plan to rework the designs of the building, focusing more on vertical buildings instead of constructing buildings horizontally to utilise space. "The revised plan for the construction is ready. However, after the thorough evaluation of the departments and existing infrastructure, a decision will be taken on the construction of new buildings," said Prof Singhai.
While the administration assures that the pause is strategic and cost-effective, concerns remain over how soon DAVV's long-delayed infrastructure dreams will take shape.
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