The new structural designs of the proposed multi-storey administrative and academic blocks were unveiled during a program organized on Saturday to mark the 106th foundation day of Patna University. There are also plans to renovate the 96-year-old Wheeler Senate House, where the anniversary event was held, officials said. He said that the Bihar government has approved all the three projects.
“Two new blocks were proposed a year ago. But some changes were made in the design,” said the university’s vice-chancellor, Girish Kumar Choudhary. “As per the plan, a G+8-storey administrative block will be built in the campus. It has been finalized. As per the earlier plan, the auditorium was to be built on the topmost floor, but it has been moved to the ground floor,” he said. The Academic Block will be a G+9 storey building with a cafeteria on the ground floor. On an average there will be two departments each in the upper floors. It will also have a library, Kumar said. He also shared slides of the new designs. 139 crore is estimated to be spent on this project.
Previous designs featured the two proposed structures with a heavy glass front. Their new incarnations have some traditional architectural elements in the form of pillars on the lower levels. A senior official had earlier said that the height restrictions were considered before the design was finalized, leading to the changes.
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The official said a notice inviting tender for the projects has been served and the foundation stone will be laid in December-January after completing the technical formalities. The administrative block will have general, establishment, registration and other departments, offices of the Pro-Vice Chancellor and other offices. It will also have a syndicate, academic council and a conference hall, the vice-chancellor said, adding that the project is expected to be completed in two years. He said the old administrative block, once vacated, would be used for vocational courses, while the Vanijya Mahavidyalaya would be shifted to the historic Darbhanga House, once the post-graduate departments would be shifted to the new academic block.
“We are trying to get back the lost glory of the university,” Choudhary said. He said Rs 2.84 crore has been approved for the renovation of Wheeler Senate House. The Senate House is named after Sir Henry Wheeler, the then governor of the province and chancellor of the university, who inaugurated it in 1926.
The infrastructure upgrade will dramatically change the look of the campus. Both the blocks will be built at a place near the Vice Chancellor’s bungalow. Officials said the New Hostel or Nutan Chhatrawas, established in 1947 near the over 110-year-old Minto hostel, was demolished to make way for the new block. A state in Eastern India education Minister Chandrashekhar was the chief guest on the occasion. Education Department Secretary Asangba Chuba Ao was also present.
The AO said that the Wheeler Senate House renovation project will be undertaken in a way that will “maintain its heritage” while being equipped with modern amenities. Patna University was established on October 1, 1917, and is situated between the banks of the Ganges and the old Ashoka Rajpath. Prime Minister Narendra Modi He attended his centenary celebrations in 2017.
The university campus is home to a large number of historic buildings, including the Dutch-era main administrative building of Patna College, established in 1863, and later British-era beautiful structures such as the old administrative block, Wheeler Senate House, Patna. Science College building and various old hostels. JG Jennings was the first Vice Chancellor of the university. The university’s governing bodies – the Senate and the Syndicate – were established in 1919.
The famous barrister Sir Sultan Ahmed was the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of the university, serving from 1923–30. The famous Patna University Library was established in 1919 and a centenary celebration was organized to commemorate its 100 years in 2019.
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