Old and new students of two of the oldest colleges in Patna will get a “new feel” when they return to the campus and their hostels after the month-long summer vacation.

Bihar Education Infrastructure Development Corporation, a unit of the education department, has begun repair and renovation work at Patna College and Patna Science College — two of the oldest institutions under Patna University.

Established in 1863, Patna College was called “Oxford of the East”. The science college was opened in 1928. Both the institutions have been listed as heritage buildings but there has been no renovation or repair work at either for nearly two decades.

But now, both the institutions are getting a facelift. The renovation would pick up pace once they close for summer vacation on June 1.

“Our institution has received Rs 2.72 crore to carry out repairs at the college buildings and hostels,” said Patna College principal Rash Bihari Prasad Singh.

He added that around 80 per cent work has been completed at the geography and the psychology departments. “Renovation involves repair of the roofs and ceilings, laying tiles on the floor, change in electrical wiring and whitewashing the walls.”

The Pariksha Bhavan (examination building) and the common rooms for girls and boys would also get a facelift. A new set of restrooms would also be constructed in front of Pariksha Bhavan.

“Besides the colleges, the hostels of Patna College — Minto, Jackson and Iqbal — would also undergo repair work during the vacation,” said Singh. He added that Rs 68 lakh had been earmarked for repairs at Iqbal Hostel, while Rs 98 lakh would be spent on the renovation of Minto and Jackson hostels. (See chart)

The university authorities have declared the vacations to be a “zero period”, which means that boarders would have to vacate the hostels during this period. At present, the students’ accommodations are in bad shape.

Apart from education and accommodation, sports infrastructure would also get a fillip after the renovations are completed. Reserve Bank of India, as part of its corporate social responsibility, would prepare a cricket pitch on the sprawling grounds of Patna College. They would spend Rs 1.5 lakh on it.

The students are very happy with the development.

First-year history student and boarder at Jackson Hostel, Anil Yadav, said: “The hostel is in a dilapidated condition. The roof is leaking with tiles falling off the second floor. Exposed electric wires and broken switchboards are an open invitation to accidents.

“It is wonderful that the authorities are planning to renovate the hostels. It will be good for boarders like me.”

At Patna Science College, too, there is a flurry of activity with repair work going on in full swing.

Rajneesh Kumar, a chemistry teacher at Patna Science College, said: “The government has provided Rs 2.77 crore for the renovation of the college.”

It would be used for casting of the building roof, as well as whitewashing the administrative department and seven academic blocks of the heritage education institution.

Five hostels of the college — Cavendish, Faraday, Newton, Raman and Ramanujan — will also see repairs.

Second-year geology student Amit Kumar, who puts up at Cavendish Hostel when the college is open, said: “The biggest problem for us is that the hostel has insufficient number of bathrooms and toilets. Hopefully, the renovation will address this problem.”

The roof of the hostels also need repair before the onset of the monsoon next month.