Mangaluru: Months after Mangalore University (MU) expressed willingness to hand over its incomplete international hostel project, on which it has spent nearly Rs 48 crore, the university has reportedly not received a positive response from any potential partner.
Government Change Delays Decision
With a change in guard in the state, officials believe a decision on the proposal is likely to be delayed. MU had written to the state government in December proposing that the international hostel be handed over to an interested organisation under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Registrar of MU Ganesh Sanjeev said a preliminary meeting was held at the government level, and later a follow-up meeting was recommended under the chairmanship of the governor, who is the chancellor of the university. The meeting, however, did not take place as scheduled due to the change of chief minister, and the matter has since been delayed, he said.
Corporate and Other Stakeholders Approached
In parallel, MU also approached corporate and other stakeholders to explore a PPP or lease arrangement for taking over the under-construction facility. Sanjeev said several stakeholders visited the site over the past few months, including Infosys, which has an office in Mudipu, a few kilometres from the MU campus. MU suggested that the international hostel could be used to accommodate employees, given commuting needs after work hours. “However, there is no proper response yet,” he said.
Another proposal involved housing a taluk court facility, but the requirement was for only a portion of the building rather than the entire structure, complicating the possibility of a full takeover.
Funding and Completion Challenges
University sources said the building has been plastered but requires several crores more to complete. As per the earlier blueprint, another Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore is needed for completion. Contractor payments are also pending, with MU stating it lacks the funds to clear dues.
The hostel project, initiated about a decade ago under the then vice-chancellor K Byrappa, was planned with 300 rooms, attached washrooms, and a kitchen.
