Govt to spend 745 crore on junior colleges, varsities in Hanamkonda

Osmania Centenary Block to come up at Arts and Science College along with a new auditorium

Warangal Urban: The State government is planning to spend Rs 745 crore on providing basic infrastructure in government junior colleges and universities across the State, informed the Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari.

Of the Rs 745 crores, Rs 325 crore would be spent on providing infrastructure at junior colleges. The funds would be used to set up labs, construct new classrooms and new buildings, he said, after laying the foundation stone for a new building at Government Junior College in Hanamkonda on Friday.

The new building would be constructed with an expenditure of Rs 7.52 crore. Kadiyam further informed that he had served as the chemistry lecturer at the college during 1980-84 and former premier late PV Narasimha Rao had studied in the college built 60 years back.

The new structure would have 20 classrooms, five labs and separate waiting rooms for girls, he said, while asking the engineering officials to complete construction within one year and monitor the works regularly.

Srihari further informed that admissions into government junior colleges have increased by 30 per cent. It was due to the free education offered by the government and improvement of infrastructure in 404 colleges.

Later, the Deputy CM addressing presspersons at the University Arts and Science College informed that Osmania Centenary Block would be built at the college with Rs 10 crore expenditure.

He said State government has allocated Rs 200 crore towards improving infrastructure at the colleges affiliated to Osmania University marking its centenary celebrations which began in April this year. Rupees 50 crore was allotted to Kakatiya University colleges, he said.

The Arts and Science College was an affiliate college to OU till 1975. In view of the fact, centenary block was planned.

Similarly, in the place of existing Arts College auditorium a new one with state-of-art facilities having 1,500 seating capacity, mini-conference halls and office rooms would be built.

He asked the officials to prepare the design and Detailed Project Report of the centenary block within two months time. The tender process has to be completed within a month.

Joint Collector K Dayanand was given the responsibility of getting the design drawn involving professionals from NIT-Warangal.

The process of filling up 1,551 posts vacant in 11 universities in the State has started, he said. Rupees 420 crore were allocated to expand the infrastructure like new hostels, libraries and labs at the universities, Srihari said.

MLA D Vinay Bhasker, KU vice-chancellor Prof R Sayanna, registrar Prof K Purushotham, Arts College principal Prof B Ilaiah and others were present.