May 15, 2011:
The master plan for constructing permanent buildings in a sprawling 83 acres, allotted for Vikrama Simhapuri University (VSU) in Kakuturu village, abutting the National Highway has been finalised. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to conduct ‘bhoomi puja' for the construction works, estimated at a cost of Rs.10 crore.
Looking ahead:VSU Vice-Chancellor C.R.Visweswara Rao and Registrar V.Narayana Reddy having a look at the master plan designs of the new university in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district.
The State government has allotted 83.31 acres of land for the new university. Another 33.99 acres of patta land is available at the same place and the district administration has written to the government to give Rs.20 crore towards compensation for the farmers, and the matter is under consideration.
The VSU management invited tenders for preparing architecture plans for the structures on the campus and the Master Plan Committee headed by Vice-Chancellor C.R.Visweswara Rao which studied on technical and financial aspects approved the design prepared by a Hyderabad-based company.
The university will finalize the plan once it is presented in the executive council shortly and allot construction works through tenders. Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, who belonged to Nellore district, has assured to sanction necessary funds for the budding university, Mr.Rao said.
The VC said an administration building, school of humanities and social sciences, life sciences, information and physical sciences, central library, six hostels including two for women, admission counselling complex, auditoriums, sports complex, housing complex for teaching and non-teaching staff, seminar halls and parking lots will come up in the proposed campus.For the first time in the state, the Survey of India has assured to give contour map for the site allotted for VSU. Once the government finalize the compensation for the 33.99 acres patta land, the university will get around 125 acres and the management has plans to start an engineering college in the district, said Mr.Rao.
Registrar V.Narayana Reddy said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sanctioned Rs.5 crore catch up grant for constructing the buildings and the state has promised to allot equal amount to the university.
The State government has accorded permission to the management to collect donations from philanthropists for setting up the campus. VSU has agreed to name the buildings after the philanthropists, who donate funds for constructing the buildings, said the Registrar adding that his official tour to US and the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) meeting proposed at San Francisco will mobilize funds for better shaping of the new university.
The university which started in 2008, has crossed several mile stones in just three years in academic and social service activities.
The tie-up with various industries, marine export companies, textile and manufacturing units and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Krishnapatnam Port Company Private Limited (KPCL) and other companies will help for providing placements for the students in MNCs in future, said Mr.Narayana Reddy. ``We expect nearly Rs.3 crore from the donors, industrialists and NRIs of Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district and meetings were planned in the next few days with prominent industrialists for the purpose. The university management is planning to complete the process and lay foundation stone for the buildings by the end of June'', said the Registrar.