Patna, Feb. 8: The education department wants to bring all colleges in the state capital affiliated to Magadh University under the ambit of a new varsity that would have its headquarters here.

The headquarters of Magadh University (MU) is in Bodhgaya, around 100km south of Patna.

“The state government and the education department are considering a proposal to set up a separate university for the colleges that are affiliated to Magadh University and are situated in Patna,” education minister P.K. Shahi told The Telegraph today.

“The laws and guidelines for governing the proposed university will be prepared in six months,” he added.

There are 11 state-run colleges, besides the private ones, that are affiliated to Magadh University and functioning from Patna. Once these colleges get their headquarters in the state capital, the students need not have to go to Bodhgaya for getting their degrees and other documents.

MU is the largest university in the state with more than 44 colleges affiliated to it. It also caters to a huge geographical area spread across Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada, Nalanda and Aurangabad. In Patna alone, institutes like AN College, JD Women’s College, Arvind Mahila College, Ganga Devi College TPS College (Postal park), BD College (Mithapur), RPM College (Patna City), RPS College (Saguna Mod), BS College (Danapur) and Mahila College (Khagaul) are affiliated to MU.

Shahi said once the new university is created, there will be an enhancement in academic activities and it would be easier from the point of view of its functioning.

Sources said the new university might be named Guru Govind Singh University or Patliputra University.

Shahi said: “It is premature to take any decision on the name of the new university. It will be decided by the state government after the chief minister and the cabinet’s consent.”

Teacher and general secretary of AN College Teachers’ Association Shatrunjay Kumar Singh said: “We welcome the government’s move to create a separate university for colleges under MU.”

Anil Gupta, a BSc student of AN College, said: “Once the new university is created, we won’t have to go to Bodhgaya for getting certificates and mark sheets and other work.”

Moreover, there is also plan for creation of separate universities for colleges under Nalanda and Motihari districts.