Central University of Bihar on BIT-Patna campus. Telegraph picture

Lack of space and teething problems will be forgotten on September 1, as Central University of Bihar would celebrate its fifth foundation day on its Patna campus.

The university had started its journey with one course (development studies) in 2009. At the time of its inception, the classes were held at rented premises on the campus of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Patna.

Over the past four years of its existence, the university has achieved quite a few successes. Though it still operates from the rented premises at BIT, the hope of a new campus in Gaya is a source of constant succour. The present is tough going for the university. The BIT campus is spread over 25 acres and the CUB has been allotted a small portion of it. In comparison, the Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) — which is also functioning out of a temporary campus at Brambe, 25km from Ranchi — has 40 acres at its disposal. The construction work of the CUJ at Cheri has also started.

The CUB, however, is not to be left behind. It has recently hired a project management consultant and an architect firm for the construction of its campus in Gaya, 110km south of Patna. Mohammed Nehal, the registrar of the university, said: “We have selected RITES as the project management consultant and Design Development Forum has been chosen as the architect firm to construct the Gaya campus.”

Gurgaon-based RITES had served as a project consultant for the Delhi Metro. New Delhi-based Design Development Forum Pvt. Ltd had planned the campuses of Central University of Odisha and Central University of Himachal Pradesh. Besides infrastructure, the university has also progressed in leaps and bounds in the academic sphere. Now it offers 20 courses, including four undergraduate courses. Teachers for all the courses have also been appointed recently.

The achievements of the varsity would be celebrated on September 1. Writer and activist Sachchidanand Sinha would be the chief guest and Central University of Tamil Nadu’s vice-chancellor B.P. Sanjay would be the guest of honour. A series of cultural programmes have been lined up for the day, including a violin performance by R.P. Shastri, head, faculty of music and performing arts, Banaras Hindu University.

The CUB would have its first convocation on September 26. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the chancellor of the university, would be the guest of honour and Vice-President Hamid Ansari the chief guest.