Patna, Jan. 12: The Patna University (PU) has hit upon a unique plan to boost its internal resources.

According to sources, the varsity administration is planning to rent out its playgrounds, auditoria and seminar halls to private parties looking for a platform to host educational programmes.

Dean, student welfare, P.K. Poddar has been asked to prepare a detailed project on the possibility of renting out varsity premises and submit it to the vice-chancellor at the earliest possible. Based on the project, the rent plan would be executed. The rent collected by the varsity will be added to its internal resources.

The university’s internal resources include the money collected from students as admission fees, annual fees and other costs. According to the university norms, out of the total money collected by the colleges under PU, 40 per cent of the income is deposited to the varsity’s internal resources and the rest is utilised by the respective institutes.

The Patna University is the seventh oldest varsity in India. It has many big halls and auditoria that remain closed for most part the year, baring few college functions.

Even the Wheeler Senate Hall, situated on Ashok Rajpath, hosts only the foundation day function and few seminars organised by the university. The rest of the year, it remains locked.

PU vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh said: “As these seminars halls and Wheeler Senate Hall are closed round the year, barring few functions, these premises can easily be given on rent to private organisations for holding functions.”

“Though we have planned to give these halls on rent, the purpose will be only educational and not commercial. Seminars and symposia related to educational purpose will be held in these halls,” Singh added.

The seminar halls will be given on rent at market rate, as the university’s prevailing rate is far less, said sources.

The Wheeler Senate Hall at present charges Rs 2,000 for a day. The hall has seating capacity for 500 persons.

The university is also planning to develop the grounds at Patna College and Patna Science College. For this, the varsity administration is likely to tie-up with the Bihar Cricket Association.

The association will develop the grounds and make seating arrangements for spectators. The idea is to prepare the grounds for local-level matches and other sports-related activities.

The vice-chancellor said the university administration is also planning to build a convention hall on the university premises.

“Land for construction of the convention centre has been selected and we have sought the state government’s co-operation for building the convention hall,” Singh said.

The convention hall will be centrally air-conditioned and have all modern facilities. Moreover, the convention hall will be used for organising the university convocation.

At present, the university holds its convocation functions at S.K.Memorial Hall.