PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ New Tehri
Swami Ram Tirth campus of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University at Badshahithaul is likely to get a major infrastructure upgrade, with a proposal containing a slew of projects worth around Rs 40 crore sent to the Centre. If approved, the projects are expected to significantly expand facilities for students, with a strong focus on sports, healthcare, student amenities and residential infrastructure, said the director of SRT campus and chairman of the university’s planning and development board, A A Boudai, adding that the proposals had been prepared under the direction of the vice-chancellor, Shri Prakash Singh.
The proposals are, however, just a part of a much larger infrastructure push by the university. Following approval from the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA), the university has submitted a total of 22 projects worth Rs 459 crore to the Centre for development across its campuses.
The package includes Rs 26 crore for Birla campus, Srinagar; Rs 104 crore for Pauri campus; Rs 40 crore for Swami Ram Tirth campus and Rs 289 crore for the Chauras campus.
The biggest proposal for the SRT campus is an Rs 24.35-crore multipurpose hall, designed to provide infrastructure for as many as 22 sports under one roof.
“The facility is expected to give students access to better sporting infrastructure and create a stronger platform for nurturing sports talent on the campus,” Boudai said.
An Rs six-crore student convenience centre has also been proposed to address students’ day-to-day requirements. The proposed facility aims to bring multiple essential student services together, making campus life more convenient and accessible.
The campus could also get its own upgraded healthcare facility, with an Rs three crore health centre proposed under the infrastructure plan. The facility is intended to provide primary healthcare services to students and others associated with the campus, reducing the need to depend entirely on facilities outside the university.
Alongside infrastructure expansion, the SRT campus is also moving towards introducing the Bachelor of Physical Education (B P Ed) programme.
The university officials said that the required information has been uploaded on the campus website in accordance with the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) notice. Once the process is completed, students could get a new higher-education option in physical education at the campus itself.
Residential infrastructure is another component of the expansion plan. A proposal for a 100-capacity girls’ hostel has also been submitted.
The SRT campus officials said that the combined projects could strengthen the SRT campus not only as an academic institution but also as a more comprehensive student-centric campus.
The proposed investments signal a shift towards developing the campus beyond conventional academic infrastructure. Sports facilities, healthcare, student services and residential amenities are all part of the proposed expansion, the officials added.
