E-Paper
Ludhiana: Punjab govt grants ₹ 40 crore to PAU
Officlas also said that the infrastructure of the newly established School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture (S-DISA) will be fortified with technologies such as artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence and spectroscopy to modernise agricultural education
The state government has earmarked a capital grant of ₹ 40 crore to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in its 2025-26 budget for the second consecutive year. This funding is specifically designated for the development of critical infrastructure at PAU, thereby reinforcing its Research, Teaching, and Extension (RTE) programmes.
Thanking the government for the allocation, Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor of PAU, expressed appreciation to Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and finance minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, for prioritising the university’s infrastructural needs. Gosal affirmed that PAU would leverage this grant to modernise and upgrade essential facilities, ensuring a more conducive learning and living environment for its students, faculty and stakeholders.
Gosal said that the ₹ 40 crore grant will be strategically deployed to bolster key infrastructural components across the university. A substantial share of the funds will be dedicated to expanding roads, laying tubewell water and sewerage lines, and constructing new hostels, classrooms, laboratories, and washrooms. The allocation will also facilitate the refurbishment of residential complexes, guest houses, hostels, the university hospital, auditoria, and office spaces, along with crucial upgrades in electrical systems, elevator installations, CCTV surveillance, and other vital enhancements.
Officlas also said that the infrastructure of the newly established School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture (S-DISA) will be fortified with technologies such as artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence and spectroscopy to modernise agricultural education. The centre of excellence for sustainable agriculture will also undergo infrastructural enhancements, creating specialised clusters for knowledge dissemination and hands-on training in resource-efficient farming.
Key facilities such as the high throughput genomics and phenomics facility, PAU gene bank, aquifer monitoring and water management facility, bio and renewable energy centre, climate smart cropping system centre, advanced packaging and quality assessment facility, fortified and nutraceutical products development centre, market intelligence cell, agri-business incubation hub, and expanded outreach services will further support these initiatives.
The grant will also be channelled into invigorating the educational ecosystem by upgrading classrooms and laboratory facilities, equipping them with state-of-the-art tools to enhance experiential learning. These developments will significantly enrich the academic experience, nurture skilled professionals and augment the university’s capacity to address contemporary agricultural challenges, driving a transformative shift towards sustainable agriculture.
