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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Cusat to expedite construction of amphitheatre
Kochi: Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) decided to expedite construction of the amphitheatre, which has been remaining closed since the tragic stampede incident in 2023. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The decision was announced during the university senate meeting held on Friday, with officials confirming that tendering process for the project began and university intends its completion before second anniversary of the stampede. In the meeting, Cusat student union chairperson Kurien Biju raised the matter stating that the auditorium is essential for hosting various events such as university arts festival Sargam and departmental fests like Dhishna and Talentime, among others. He further stated that due to the absence of this facility, organizing events has become challenging for a university with such a large student population and urged to complete the auditorium's renovation and reopen it immediately. A senior university official told TOI that university already received a quotation for civil and engineering works of the amphitheatre. "Works would begin immediately," said the official. Meanwhile, university authorities said road beside the amphitheatre will not be opened as the amphitheatre is to be rebuilt, extending towards the nearby road to ensure safety. "In the current design road beside the auditorium will be taken over for construction," said a senior official. The stampede which occurred during Dhishna tech festival hosted by Cusat's school of engineering (SoE) on Nov 25, 2023, claimed four lives. The incident happened minutes before popular singer Nikitha Gandhi was to perform at open-air auditorium on the campus.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Cusat auditorium renovation stalled
Kochi: Student organizations at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have intensified their demand to fast-track renovation of the open-air auditorium, which has been remaining closed since a stampede during Dhishna tech festival in Nov 2023. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now KSU-led students' union chairperson Kurien Biju voiced frustration over the inaction. "We were told the renovation would begin soon, but months have passed with no visible progress. We've also been requesting the reopening of the adjacent access road," said Biju. He noted that the absence of a large-capacity venue has hindered students from organizing major cultural and academic events. "As a member of the university senate, I will bring this up again at the meeting later this month," he added. The stampede, which occurred on Nov 25, 2023, claimed four lives and prompted the university to shut the venue, citing security concerns and structural flaws. Although state govt earlier provided directives on the renovation of the structure of amphitheatre, the construction hasn't begun so far. SFI has also raised concerns about the delay. SFI unit secretary Sharan said, "It is crucial to restore the amphitheatre for student activities. When we approached the administration, they pointed to financial constraints as a reason for the delay." Muslim Students Federation unit at the university too has made a similar demand. Student groups emphasized that restoring the auditorium is not only vital for conducting events but also for boosting student morale and campus vibrancy. They urged the university to prioritize safety upgrades and allocate necessary funds to reopen the facility at the earliest.
