Patna: Hundreds of newly admitted Patna University (PU) students are struggling to find accommodation as hostel allotments remain pending even after classes have started, forcing many from outside the city to endure long commutes or spend heavily on private lodging.Sources said over 4,000 students have been admitted to the first semester of four-year undergraduate (UG) degree programmes in PU colleges this year, while the combined hostel capacity for students across semesters I to IV is only around 2,500. The sharp mismatch between demand and available accommodation has forced many students to struggle for affordable housing in the city.Parents of several students said the lack of hostel facilities was affecting regular attendance. “Though classes at Magadh Mahila College started more than a fortnight ago, my daughter is yet to get a hostel seat. How can she attend classes regularly while staying in a private hotel and paying exorbitant charges?” said Chandram Singh, father of a newly admitted student.The problem is equally severe for students from distant areas. Raghwendra, a first-year student of Patna Science College, said he was commuting daily from Fatuha as he had failed to secure accommodation in Patna. “I have requested the college authorities to allot hostel seats to needy students coming from outside the city,” he said.PU dean of students’ welfare Kameshwar Pandit said the university had directed colleges to renew hostel allotments for existing occupants promoted to higher semesters. Applications for hostel accommodation from newly admitted UG and PG students are likely to be invited shortly.“Admissions to PG courses are also likely to be completed soon. Applications for accommodation in both UG and PG hostels will have to be submitted through the Samarth portal,” Pandit said.The hostel shortage, however, is not new. The university can accommodate only a fraction of students seeking residential facilities. Barely 20% of undergraduate students get hostel accommodation, underlining the widening gap between enrolment and residential infrastructure.According to Pandit, Patna Science College has five hostels, Patna College has three, and Magadh Mahila College has three. In addition, there is one hostel for girl students of all PU colleges except Magadh Mahila College.For students from outside Patna, delayed hostel accommodation is not merely an inconvenience but a major obstacle to pursuing higher education regularly and affordably.
