VIJAYAWADA: Private universities are now looking at Vizag, instead of Vijayawada, to establish their campuses. As VIT and SRM universities are already coming up in Amaravati and would start 2017-18 academic session, other universities are considering Vizag to avoid competition. To start the 2017-18 academic year, these universities are to get letter of intent and gazette notification from the state government. The GoM constituted for the discussion on land allocations and other modalities has not yet met till now.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, after laying the foundation stone for VIT-AP, said 15 universities had evinced interest in setting up world-class educational institutes in Amaravati, as he emphasised on the need for a change in the Centre's policies so that international private universities like Stanford, Harvard and Oxford could foray into India and Andhra Pradesh either through direct campus or through collaboration with others.
The Andhra Pradesh government is keen about developing knowledge city, as part of establishing world-class institutions to create a brand for Amaravati. The AP government allocated land for VIT and SRM universities in Amaravati and had issued letter of intent primarily to IFMR University, Great Lakes International Universi-ty, World Peace University, Vel Tech Dr. R.R and Dr. S.R University, Centurion University and Amity University. All other universities, except VIT and SRM, are willing to establish their campuses out of Amaravati.
Amity University, which agreed to establish its campus in Amaravati now changed its decision, and is looking to establish campus in Vizag. Amity University, Vijayawada branch head, Prasad said he was unaware of where the campus is going to be established and mentioned that he had come to know from others that Amity is looking towards Vizag instead of Amaravati for its campus.
Andhra University Registrar Prof. V. Umamaheswara Rao said there was no problem for the state-established universities, as there are many variances when compared with private universities courses, fee structure, infrastructure, standards, curriculum and faculties. The status of the universities that have got the letter of intent from the state government is as follows: VIT needs 300 acres, while the government has given 200 acres in Amaravati with the project cost of Rs 3,707.78 for 10 years, facilitating 32,010 student strength.
The SRM University has a requirement of 300 acres while the government has given 200 acres in Amaravati with the project cost of Rs 5,250 crore for 10 years, facilitating 50,665 student strength. IFRM University has no land requirement as it has 40 acres of its own at Sri City, Chittor district, with a project cost of Rs 125 crore, facilitating 2,865 students. Great Lakes University has no land requirement as it has 12 acres of its own at Sri City, Chittoor district, with a project cost of Rs 199.27 crore, facilitating 4,142 students.
The status of the universities that are to receive the letter of intent from the state government is: World Peace University seeks 150 acres in Vizag and land is to be allotted, with a project cost of Rs 1,511 crore for 10 years, facilitating 8,040 students. Vel Tech Dr. R.R and Dr. S.R University is asking for 67 acres in Srikalahasti and land is to be allotted, with a project cost of Rs 1,193.44 crore for 10 years, facilitating 5,797 students. Amity University is looking for 150 acres in Vizag.
