Jackson Hostel in Patna

Patna, July 7: The admission process at all the colleges under Patna University (PU) is on in full steam. But many students admitted this year might not find accommodation in the hostels. Reason: the university administration has doubled the seats in all the colleges but did not take any corresponding decision on accommodating the extra students.

At present, there are 20 hostels under the university.

Saurav Dubey, a second-year student of Patna College, said: “With the increase in the number of seats there will be problem in allocating rooms to students. Patna College attracts a large number of students from other districts of Bihar. They will face problems in getting accommodation in the hostels.”

Patna College has four hostels — Minto Hostel, Jackson Hostel, Iqbal Hostel and Nadvi Hostel. Sources said there was “no room” in any of them.

Tanveer, another student, said: “The hostels are affordable. First-year general category students are charged Rs 3,250. Second- and third-year students have to pay Rs 1,760.”

If students have to rent rooms because of the lack of facilities in the hostels, they would have to shell out far more.

Patna Science College administration, however, feel that they would be able to accommodate all the students.

Kashinath, the principal of Patna Science College, said: “Though there has been an increase in the number of seats this year, we do not expect too much trouble in providing accommodation to the students, as many hostels are not fully occupied.”

Patna Science College has five hostels — Faraday Hostel, Cavendish Hostel, CV Raman Hostel, Ramanujan Hostel and Bhaba Hostel. The college will admit 600 students from this year for the BSc with honours course.

The principal added that they might face problems next year if the university did not make any arrangements to increase the accommodation capacity of hostels.

Some colleges are trying to accommodate all the students in the limited space.

Suheli, the superintendent of Kalyan Hostel of Magadh Mahila College, said: “Our college is for women. We have to provide accommodation to all the students, as it is a question of their security.”

Three students would have to share rooms for two at the four hostels of the college this year.