1.7k 1st yr students allocated hostel

Chandigarh: Panjab University here has allocated 1,722 hostel seats to first-year students, with approximately 850 seats each for boys and girls students, for the 2024-25 academic session.
The university offers 10 hostels for girls, eight for boys, an international hostel, and eight hostels for working women. The subsidised rates make hostels the preferred choice for the outstation students.While a similar off-campus accommodation costs them anywhere between Rs 7,000 and Rs 12,000 per month, the on-campus stay is worth Rs 5,420 for six months. However, based on the last year’s intake with around 4,000-5,000 first-year students, the current allocation only meets the needs of one in three applicants.
After a three-year break, the university has reinstated the online allocation process.
The hostels can only accommodate around 6,000 students, leaving roughly 50% of applicants without a spot and forcing them to find accommodation outside the campus. The demand for women's accommodation has been particularly high for the last four-five years.
Despite students seeking opening of Girls’ Hostel 11, the PU has overlooked the demand for nearly four years. The hostel, completed in Dec 2020 and funded through a Rs 5-crore grant under the RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) 2.0, was intended to accommodate PhD students. Despite being fully ready, the hostel remains locked as it awaits the completion certificate.
During a visit, the hostel appeared well-equipped with beds and tiles intact. However, it turns out that the tender for the fire and other minor works is still awaited causing the facility to acquire dust. The hostel can accommodate 70 students.
Asked about the facility lying unused for the last four years, Amit Chauhan, dean, student welfare, said: “I cannot comment on the last four years, but yes, I am positive that it will happen soon.”
“It is our priority. Construction tender has finally been sent for approval to the UT authorities, a necessary step before any work can proceed. Once approved, the tender will be called, and once it is finalised, it will take approximately one and a half month to complete the pending tasks,” said Chauhan.