Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Sept 17: Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir A. Ravinder Nath today said that the university is all set for major infrastructure and academic upgrades over the next three years, with a project monitoring unit to curb delays in pending works.
Nath said the plan includes six academic buildings worth Rs 400 crore, spread across five lakh square feet, each about 7,000 square meters. The buildings will be completed within 20 to 24 months after tendering. A 1,000-bed hostel, split between boys and girls, is also planned and expected to be ready within two years.
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The girls’ hostel has already been expanded from 40 to 100 beds, while customized private accommodation at negotiated rates has been arranged for outstation students. Nath said the number of students from outside Jammu and Kashmir has risen from 159 when he joined to nearly 400 now. “Of the total Rs 546-556 crore sanctioned, Rs 400 crore is earmarked for new buildings and Rs 150 crore for salaries and recurring expenses over three years,” he said.
To avoid delays, the university will set up a project monitoring unit and adopt stricter tendering norms. “Contractors must use automated machinery, adopt innovation, and apply construction management principles so work can be finished in 20 to 24 months,” Nath said.
The VC acknowledged irregularities in past projects. In one case, a contractor for an Rs 28 crore project received Rs 25 crore but failed to finish work while making false deviation claims of Rs 8 crore. “There is something fishy. I am considering handing the case to the ACB or CBI,” Nath said, adding that his administration reduced costs by converting heavy wall structures into labs and refurbishing black structures for other departments.
Alongside infrastructure, Nath announced student-focused initiatives. The National Youth Learning Network (NYLN) scheme will initially cover 10% of students in each department from weaker families, offering 10 hours of weekly work on campus for Rs 4,000 a month. The program will later expand to 20-30 students per department. “Our goal is for students to study while earning. They should not only gain education but also build the confidence to face interviews or start their own ventures,” VC said.
The curriculum is being redesigned under a new pedagogy model with skill-based courses and online learning. “Internships will be embedded into programs, covering research, industry, and community service. This will provide experiential learning, preparing students for jobs or entrepreneurship,” he said.
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