Walking about the campus, one is bound to notice that it is continuously evolving. Faculty blocks, bhawans, and messes have been under renovation and numerous construction sites have arisen in various locations. The Rs. 650 crore Project Parivartan is the driving force behind this change. Lt. Col. A.K. Bhataiya, Chief of the Estate Management Unit (EMU), shed light on the progress of the project in a recent interview.

The renovation of FD-1, which began late in 2016, is nearing completion. ‘The handing over of the building from the project manager to the EMU is almost complete and the building will be open for use in 3 months’, said the EMU chief. ‘Labs have been air-conditioned and another 25-30 years have been added to the lifetime of the building. The Civil and Chemical Engineering departments are planned to be housed in FD-1.’

The construction near SR Bhawan, which started last semester, is intended to be a step-down electricity distribution centre and a water chilling plant. It shall supply electricity and air-conditioning to FD-1, 2, and 3. Power houses of smaller capacity are being built next to VFAST, the Ram-Budh, and Krishna-Gandhi messes as well.

The latest addition to the campus has been the studio apartment complex behind SAC, which opened for accommodation this semester. The complex consists of 60 flats spread across 5 blocks, each with 3 floors. Although the apartment was meant for married Ph.D scholars, it is currently occupied by 150 fourth and fifth-year students, since Krishna Bhawan is under renovation.  Equipped with a large living room, a kitchen, and two balconies, each flat can comfortably accommodate 3 students.

Yet another apartment block is being constructed in the midst of the faculty quarters. It shall serve as a residence to 56 faculty members and their families. After its completion, the older bungalows will be renovated in phases, beginning with the ones situated on Paschim Marg. The last phase is planned to be finished by 2020.

The bhawans – Shankar, Vyas, Rana Pratap, Ashok, Bhagirath and the old blocks of Meera – are all scheduled for renovation as well. New wings will be added to these bhawans to keep up with the increased student intake. The demolition of SR Bhawan and the construction of a new bhawan in its place are a part of Parivartan. In addition to the newly renovated Ram-Budh mess, each mess will also be renovated in phases.

The future years will see major changes to the heart of the campus. ‘The renovation of FD-3 will begin by December. It will be followed by FD-2 and the central block’, said the EMU chief.