CUB VC Janak Pandey hopes the Motihari campus will start soon

The Central University of Bihar authorities are pinning their hopes on the resumption of Parliament to start both the Gaya and Motihari campuses this academic session.

The Gaya campus of the central varsity is shaping up, with four undergraduate and postgraduate courses each being launched last week.

The Motihari campus is, however, in the doldrums. Holding up the second campus of the Central University of Bihar is the amendment to the Central Universities Act, 2009, — yet to be passed by Parliament.

Last year the Union cabinet gave its nod to set up the twin campuses for Central University of Bihar at Motihari and Gaya ending the tussle between the Union and state governments. But the bill, necessary to set up a second campus, is pending in Parliament since September last year. The central university administration is hopeful of the bill being passed in Parliament’s budget session scheduled to resume on April 22.

Janak Pandey, vice-chancellor, Central University of Bihar, said: “We are hopeful that the bill proposing amendment to the Central Universities Act, 2009, will be passed in this budget session of Parliament.”

Once passed, it is likely that the academic session of Central University of Bihar, Motihari campus, will start with that of the Gaya campus.

The state government has started land acquisition process for the Motihari campus with the cabinet sanctioning Rs 276 crore for the purpose. It has finalised 300 acres in Pipra, around 3km from Motihari town, to set up the second campus.

A source said: “The sanctioned money would be spent on the acquisition of land and other development and construction works. Of the sanctioned funds, Rs 100 crore would be spent in the current fiscal.” Sources said the vice-chancellor and other employees of Central University of Bihar. Motihari campus, would be appointed as soon as Parliament passes the amendment and the state government acquires the land.

Then Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal had announced the decision last July to set up two central universities in Bihar to end the tussle between the state and Centre over the location of a sole Central University of Bihar that was sanctioned initially.

Last week, the university moved one step ahead in setting up the Gaya campus with the launch of four postgraduate programmes (in political science, sociology, Hindi and English) and four undergraduate programmes for the 2013-14 session. Registrar Mohammed Nehal said: “The admission to the eight courses will be done on the basis of Central Universities Common Entrance Test.”