Mangaluru: The Mangalore University (MU) has formally asked the state govt to take over two unfinished infrastructure projects — the International Hostel and the Belapu PG Centre in Udupi — citing severe financial strain.Vice-chancellor prof PL Dharma said the university submitted a proposal to the state govt seeking full takeover of the projects so the partially completed facilities can be put to public use, instead of remaining idle. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the fourth general academic council meeting on Tuesday.According to Dharma, the university has proposed that the Belapu PG Centre be converted into a govt engineering college. Around 70% of the construction at the centre has been completed. He said such a move would benefit students in the region, which currently lacks both govt and private engineering colleges outside Mangaluru and Udupi town.“We have spent over Rs 11 crore on the Belapu PG Centre and 70% of the work is completed. Similarly, several crores of money are spent on the International Hostel, and work is still not over. MU has no funds to carry out further work, and therefore has requested the govt to take them over completely. This arrangement will help in putting the resources to best use,” Dharma explained.The university has also suggested that the unfinished International Hostel be repurposed either as a hotel or as hostel accommodation for govt departments. The hostel project began about a decade ago but remains incomplete.Dharma said the university’s financial difficulties have made it impossible to continue work on either project. He said transferring them to the government would ensure that the infrastructure is not wasted and can serve a broader public purpose under direct state management.The International Hostel project is also entangled in a legal dispute over unpaid contractor bills. Dharma said the matter is currently before the court, which has directed payment of pending dues along with interest. “We owe Rs 38 crore to the contractor. The contractor, through a court order, has asked us to pay Rs 80 crore, which includes interest,” he said.
