University acquires land for Kalyan sub-centre

The Mumbai university is inching closer towards decentralising its function. After major hiccups in acquiring land for a sub-centre in Kalyan, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation will officially hand over about 26,000 sq metre plot in the Gandhare area to the university by month-end.

The Mumbai university is inching closer towards decentralising its function.

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After major hiccups in acquiring land for a sub-centre in Kalyan, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation will officially hand over about 26,000 sq metre plot in the Gandhare area to the university by month-end. “We will be signing the memorandum of understanding and also laying the foundation stone,” said acting vice-chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy.

Almost a year after the varsity acquired land for the Thane sub-centre in Balkum, bids inviting architects to draw up a master plan will close on April 15 and the process to appoint one will begin. The proposed school of engineering and fine arts will also be set up at the Thane centre.

The sub-centre will be beneficial to students living in Thane and Raigad district, as they are forced to travel to the Kalina campus to enroll in courses, pick up mark sheets, pay fees and other paperwork.

“Apart from being an administrative branch of the university, the sub-centres will offer post-graduate courses. We are deciding what courses will be offered,” said Krishnamurthy.

These developments are significant in the light of the announcement made by Minister for Higher and Technical Education Rajesh Tope on April 7 in the Legislative Council that both Mumbai and Pune universities will have more than one sub-centre for smooth administrative functioning.

The concept of sub-centres is not new to Mumbai varsity. In 2005, it got its first sub-centre in Ratnagiri. The varsity has 416 affiliated colleges and wants to develop Thane district as an education hub.

For two years, the university has been receiving proposals to set up new colleges in Thane district. In 2008, of the 145 new colleges approved by the varsity, 58 were in Thane.