RIL, GIDC, GMDC TO OPERATE COLLEGES
They are among 12 corporates, state PSUs and trusts picked to run 12 engineering colleges on public-private partnership
Yogesh Avasthi
Reliance and GMDC are among 12 corporates, state PSUs and trusts chosen to run engineering colleges in the state. These colleges will be run on the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The government will provide land and infrastructure to these semi-self-financed colleges, while the private parties will look after its management.
Principal Secretary (Education) Dr Hasmukh Adhia confirmed the news.
The names were finalised at a Thursday meeting of the Education department. Reliance Industries Limited will set up a college in Jamnagar, Gondal-based Jyoti Engineers & Contractors Pvt Ltd in Junagadh and Chennai-based Hebron will build a college in Amreli.
Seven PSUs too have been selected to build colleges. Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd will set up an engineering college in Khambhat, Gujarat State Financial Corporation in Padra, Gujarat Akalies and Chemicals Limited in Rajpipla, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation in Navsari and Gujarat State Petronet Limited in Surendranagar. The Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation will construct a college in Mehsana while the Gujarat Power Corporation will do so in Kapadvanj.
Colleges in Vyara and Porbandar will be managed by charitable trusts.
The government will lease the land for the college at a token cost of Re 1. The lease period will be 30 years. The private parties will also be given up to Rs 10 crore to construct the building.
The government had planned to implement the PPP model for 12 engineering colleges last year, but was unable to do so due to technical reasons. Hence, it launched six colleges in government buildings last year.
Later, they floated again tenders and received 120 applications. The shortlisted candidates were asked to make presentations. A highly placed official said, “The government had specified that only those firms with an annual turnover of Rs 100 crore will be considered. On Thursday, they selected the 12 private parties.”
He added, “The government will continue to run the colleges this year. Next academic year, it will be handed over to the private parties.
Yogesh Avasthi
Reliance and GMDC are among 12 corporates, state PSUs and trusts chosen to run engineering colleges in the state. These colleges will be run on the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The government will provide land and infrastructure to these semi-self-financed colleges, while the private parties will look after its management.
Principal Secretary (Education) Dr Hasmukh Adhia confirmed the news.
The names were finalised at a Thursday meeting of the Education department. Reliance Industries Limited will set up a college in Jamnagar, Gondal-based Jyoti Engineers & Contractors Pvt Ltd in Junagadh and Chennai-based Hebron will build a college in Amreli.
Seven PSUs too have been selected to build colleges. Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd will set up an engineering college in Khambhat, Gujarat State Financial Corporation in Padra, Gujarat Akalies and Chemicals Limited in Rajpipla, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation in Navsari and Gujarat State Petronet Limited in Surendranagar. The Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation will construct a college in Mehsana while the Gujarat Power Corporation will do so in Kapadvanj.
Colleges in Vyara and Porbandar will be managed by charitable trusts.
The government will lease the land for the college at a token cost of Re 1. The lease period will be 30 years. The private parties will also be given up to Rs 10 crore to construct the building.
The government had planned to implement the PPP model for 12 engineering colleges last year, but was unable to do so due to technical reasons. Hence, it launched six colleges in government buildings last year.
Later, they floated again tenders and received 120 applications. The shortlisted candidates were asked to make presentations. A highly placed official said, “The government had specified that only those firms with an annual turnover of Rs 100 crore will be considered. On Thursday, they selected the 12 private parties.”
He added, “The government will continue to run the colleges this year. Next academic year, it will be handed over to the private parties. “Meanwhile, these private parties will have to construct a college building in nine months. If they need more land, the firms will have to buy it at market price.”
A total of 2,850 engineering seats will be created by this move. The fees in these colleges will be less than that of self-financed colleges, but more than the government-run ones.
Explaining the reason behind the PPP model, the official said, “The government wanted to start engineering colleges where there were none. As it could not reach everywhere, PPP was a viable solution. These firms and trusts are already established in the regions they have been asked to set up the colleges.
“Being from the same field, they know the demand of the market. They will be able to get the best names associated with the field of engineering to teach the students. This will ensure quality education. The government will be free of the daily management issues, yet be part of the system.”
He added that one of the six people in the governing body will be from the government.
