Works at AKNU’s new campus at a brisk pace - The Hindu

Works at AKNU’s new campus at a brisk pace

B.V.S. BHASKAR

The 96-acre campus of the Adikavi Nannaya University at Velugubanda village in East Godavari district is all set to become one of the knowledge centres of Andhra Pradesh.

The university, which started functioning from a rented building in 2006, has seen many teething troubles, especially the ones during land acquisitions for more than four years. It has been shifted to its own campus in the vicinity of Velugubanda village, adjacent to the National Highway in Rajanagaram mandal.

In the first phase of construction, development of basic infrastructure including roads, electricity and drinking water supply has been completed in a little over two and half years.. “We are going to build the campus on the lines of Benaras Hindu University and Andhra University. It is not just about infrastructure, we are sparing no effort to make it a knowledge centre,” Prof. George Victor, Vice-Chancellor of the university said. The construction of the Academic Block with two floors has been completed and the third floor is under construction. The other structures that have already been built include an International guest house with 18 rooms (36 more are under construction), a boys hostel with 36 rooms and works for another 12 rooms in the second stage has commenced. “In all, the works are estimated to cost around Rs.22 crore and the Central Public Works Department is executing the project,” said the Vice-Chancellor. After clearing the forest, the road-laying works were undertaken and seven cross roads and three main roads have already been laid, with hundreds of trees being planted on either side of it. Further works pertaining to metal roads, drainage, pavements, surface water storage tank, rain water harvesting structures have been undertaken. According to university Registrar Dhanunjaya Rao, they have entrusted the works pertaining to architecture, designs and estimates to a private consultancy.