Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has launched a comprehensive infrastructure upgradation drive after receiving the first tranche of a Rs 20 crore capital grant from the state govt. The university has received Rs 10 crore so far, with the remaining Rs 10 crore expected to be released soon. The grant will be used to upgrade laboratories, offices and guest houses, strengthen computing facilities, and procure buses and tractors to support academic and extension activities.Vice-chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said the capital grant would help address several long-pending infrastructure requirements across the campus. He said laboratories, offices, computers and other essential facilities would be modernised under the scheme, adding that utilisation of funds for procurement and development works had already begun.Dr Gosal said transport facilities are also being strengthened. One new bus has already been procured, while two to three more are required to meet the growing needs of students and extension programmes. He said PAU organises around six Kisan Melas outside the campus every year and students also undertake educational tours to states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Buses are used for these activities, besides outreach programmes, youth festivals, inter-university competitions and other academic visits.He said several laboratories across departments require modernisation with updated equipment, while computing infrastructure in many departments needs upgradation to meet current teaching, research and administrative requirements. These improvements, which had been pending for long, would now be taken up under the capital grant.The vice-chancellor added that while deans’ offices had been upgraded earlier, several other offices and departmental cabins still required renovation. The grant will be used to upgrade these spaces and improve working conditions for faculty and staff. Guest house facilities will also be improved to better accommodate visiting scientists and delegations.Four tractors have been added under the capital grant. Separately, PAU has procured 50 tractors and other equipment using an RKVY grant of Rs 10 crore to replace old machinery and support research, plantation and field operations at the university, its research stations and seed farms across Punjab. Dr Gosal said many existing tractors were 10 to 18 years old and had become inefficient, with repairs also proving difficult due to ageing machinery.Fund utilization planUtilise the Rs 20-crore capital grant (Rs 10 crore received, Rs 10 crore awaited) for campus-wide infrastructure upgradation Upgrade laboratories with modern equipment and improved infrastructure Strengthen computing facilities across departments Renovate offices and create additional cabins to improve working conditions for faculty and staff Upgrade guest houses for better accommodation of visitors Procure buses to support academic activities, outreach programmes and student events; one bus already purchased, more planned Add tractors and equipment to replace old machinery; four tractors procured under the capital grant
