300 computers lie unused in SPA

Over 300 computers and system software are lying unutilised in the store room of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) for the past one year. The reason: Absence of adequate infrastructure to put them in use. Subhendu Ray reports.

Over 300 computers and system software are lying unutilised in the store room of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) for the past one year. The reason: Absence of adequate infrastructure to put them in use.

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Sources said these workstations and software were purchased by the SPA in March last year at a whopping cost of R4 crore. The funds had been sanctioned by the Central government following the implementation of OBC quota which had led to an increase in the number of seats in the college.

A senior SPA official on condition of anonymity said, "We have enough computers (about 200) and software to cater to over 800 students but we do not have any infrastructure in place."

When contacted, professor K Kapadia, dean of SPA, expressed his ignorance about the issue.

The SPA's architecture department is now planning to create the infrastructure to put these computers in use. "We are trying to put them in the upcoming studios and libraries. Some of them are already in use," said Nirza Tikku, a professor in the department.

"Surprisingly, the computers were purchased first and then we made the designs and

got approvals. We wanted to install them by May last year. But due to delay in the process of developing infrastructure, most are lying packed," said a senior official from the physical planning department.

The matter was discussed in a recent faculty meeting, where a senior member of executive council had emphasised upon putting the computers in use at the earliest.

Sources said the warranty period for all computers and software would be over by the time they are installed. Tikku refused to comment on this issue calling it "technical".