Andhra Pradesh Logistics University on hold due to fund crunch

KAKINADA: Due to lack of financial assistance from state government, Andhra Pradesh Logistics University is not in a position to function this academic year. After bifurcation, the  AP government proposed to set up the University in Kakinada along with Petroleum University. 

While the Petroleum University has been shifted to another district, the future of the Logistics University seems to be bleak. Even as the government officially announced that academic session will commence from October, there is little action taken up at the ground level. 

Adding to the woes, proposal to start academic year on a makeshift campus is also in doldrums, as the sanctioned Rs 300 crore is not yet released. 

Earlier, ports department had allotted 90 acre land near the northern side of the Kakinada fishing harbour to establish the country's first Logistics University at a cost of Rs 250 crore, out of which the Union ministry of shipping was supposed to bear 50 per cent.

“The university is combining the spectrum of logistics and supply chain management such as road transport, shipping among others. The idea is to impart skill development on these grounds. However, it is not possible to start academic session this year,” state ports director K. Praveen.

He said that a meeting will be conducted with the department officials at the earliest. 

“At the idea level, this is a very innovative initiative, as there is no such university in the country. There is only a Maritime University in Chennai. It is appalling to note that even curriculum or academic design has not been done. How can the state government announce such university without doing basic groundwork,” Cocanada Chamber of Commerce president Dantu Surya Rao said. 

He said that the AP government is cheating people in the name of establishment of Universities. He pointed that logistics play a vital role in economy and a specialised educational institute to cater to those needs is the need of the hour.