Kamal Ghorui
New Delhi: Delhi University colleges have proposed infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1,900 crore under Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA), with multiple proposals at different stages of approval. Ramanujan College has already secured a Rs 178.3-crore sanction for a major campus upgrade.According to official documents, Ramanujan College has been sanctioned a term loan for construction of a G+10 hostel block and a G+5 academic-administrative-cum-library complex.The project cost includes Rs 102.1 crore for the academic block and Rs 76.2 crore for the hostel. The sanction memorandum states that the loan carries an interest rate of 5.55% per annum and is structured for repayment in 20 half-yearly instalments.Under the revised HEFA framework (window III), 90% of the principal and the entire interest burden are serviced through govt grants, while institutions are required to repay the remaining 10% over a 10-year period.“Under the HEFA window III scheme, 90% of the sanctioned amount is provided as a grant. The remaining 10% is to be repaid over 10 years, in annual instalments of 1%. The interest on this 10% amount is also borne by govt,” said college principal Rasal Singh.He added, “We are availing funds under this scheme for the expansion of our infrastructure. From the very first day I assumed office, I began working on this project to ensure that we get our project approved before this scheme is changed or discontinued.”Singh said the college would pay the instalments from the current fee collection and its corpus. “We shall not increase the fee structure for the purpose,” he assured.Documents show that several other DU colleges, including Hansraj College, Kirori Mal College, Shri Ram College of Commerce and Miranda House, have also submitted HEFA proposals for infrastructure funding.According to sources in the Union education ministry, these proposals are at different stages of processing, with some with the ministry for appraisal, while others are pending revised submissions, clarifications or institutional approvals. In some cases, proposals have received in-principle clearances or cost revisions, particularly for hostel and academic infrastructure projects.Officials said processing delays in certain cases were linked to requirements such as detailed project reports, financial structuring and compliance with HEFA norms.
