With around 21,000 students enrolled across its two campuses but accommodation for only 2,900, the university’s widening hostel gap has come into sharper focus after the collapse of a five-storey paying guest (PG) building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on September 6. For every hostel bed at the century-old Lucknow University (LU), there are several students waiting for one.
A proposal for a 350-seater girls’ hostel has been approved and construction is expected to begin soon. With student numbers rising and existing hostel capacity largely occupied by continuing students, LU’s immediate relief rests on the proposed 350-seater girls’ hostel and the government’s response to its other hostel proposals. Because their fees are comparatively affordable, university hostels remain in demand.
LU, for the moment, is looking to the Uttar Pradesh government to bridge the gap. The university is also preparing a proposal for another hostel, while plans for two more hostels at the second campus have been sent to the government seeking approval and financial assistance. Private accommodation is often more expensive, while staying farther from campus also adds to daily commuting costs.
