Patna: Patna University (PU) vice-chancellor Ajay Kumar Singh on Friday laid the foundation stones for two residential complexes for teachers and non-teaching staff at Rani Ghat here, marking a significant step towards addressing the long-standing accommodation shortage faced by university employees.The G+2 residential complexes, being constructed at an estimated cost of over Rs17 crore, will have 24 flats each. Once completed, the facilities are expected to ease housing constraints for PU staff, said Birendra Prasad, director of the university’s internal quality assurance cell (IQAC).Several senior university officials were present at the ceremony, including registrar Shalini, university engineer Sachin Dayal, and dean of students’ welfare Kameshwar Pandit.University sources said the funds for the housing project were provided by the state government as compensation for damage caused to some PU buildings during the construction of the metro rail project and flyovers in the city.The housing project has been launched shortly after major infrastructure upgrades at the university. Less than a month ago, then chief minister Nitish Kumar had inaugurated a new G+8 administrative building and a G+9 academic block for the arts faculty on the PU campus, built at a cost of Rs147.29 crore.The newly constructed academic and administrative blocks house specialised departments, a cafeteria, library, reading rooms, conference halls and upgraded offices. These facilities are expected to enhance the academic environment and provide students and faculty with modern infrastructure, PU officials said.
