The land for the project will be leased out for 33 years.
The Chandigarh administration’s ambitious Education City project that envisages providing world class educational facilities in Chandigarh, seems to have hit a roadblock, as some shortlisted players have raised objections over the use of land.
Talking to Business Standard, Chandigarh Home and Education Secretary Ram Niwas Sharma said a few shortlisted players have raised objections over the use of land and want modifications according to AICTE norms for their upcoming educational institutes in the city.
The project, which is to come up at Sarangpur on public-private partnership (PPP), is spread over 150 acres, out of which 75 acres have been reserved for private institutions in the first phase. The remaining 75 acres have been reserved for an institute of design and other professional colleges.
Sharma said the administration had mentioned that the land would be leased out for 33 years and the terms of revenue sharing would be finalised with the private partners.
However, some shortlisted players want certain relaxation in the land lease period in according with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms. The education secretary maintained that the administration has sought legal opinion over the issue contended in the project by shortlisted players.
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According to UT officials, out of the total nine shortlisted players, only three have signed the agreement for the upcoming Education City project. The three players who have signed contract for the project are Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), the Chandigarh-based Chitkara Education Trust, and Indian Express Newspaper (Mumbai) Ltd.
According to officials, the organisations had been chosen based on recommendations made by an expert committee which was appointed by the Chandigarh administration. The committee had cleared six players in the first phase and three players in the second phase for setting up their campuses.
The six players which were shortlisted in the first phase are DAV College Managing Committee (New Delhi), Fortis Healthcare Ltd (New Delhi), Vile Parle Kelvani Mandal (Mumbai), Tech Mahindra Ltd (Pune), Hit Abhilashi Foundation Society in association with ILFS Chandigarh, and Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematic.
On the other hand, the three players selected in the second phase are Thapar University (Patiala), Ramnath Goenka Memorial Trust and Media Foundation (Indian Express) and Chitkara Educational Trust.
The aim of setting up the city is to provide youths the best educational courses while empowering them to gain employment at the highest levels. Another aim is to make available human resources for the growing economy and keep thrust on areas that are rare in terms of available talent but are required urgently in today's context.