Dhirubhai Ambani Memorial Trust seeks more time to set up varsity in Bhopal

Seeks two year extension; validity of university proposal has expired in July 2012

Dhirubhai Ambani Memorial Trust (DAMT) has sought more time for setting up its Dhirubhai Ambani University (DAU), which was expected to start taking shape in nearby Acharpura village post monsoon.

"In a recent meeting with the state chief minister in Mumbai, the trust urged the state government to extend validity for another two years. Once it is granted, the university will come up in two years time," a source in DAMT said.

The validity of the university proposal expired in July 2012. The revenue department of the state government had asked the trust to complete construction work on the university within three years from the allotted date.

The trust was allotted 110 acres for setting up the university in Bhopal in 2008. The state government had committed the land to Anil Ambani during Global Investors Meet in 2007. "The DAMT has proposed to invest an amount of Rs 500 crore," the source said.

Meanwhile, a government official said, "An amendment to Madhya Pradesh Private (Establishment and Conduct) Second Amendment Act is mooted to be amended further. If the Act is amended, it will obviously allow all private universities to have an extended period of validity."

Earlier in 2010, State Private Universities Regulatory Commissioner Akhilesh Kumar Pandey had written a letter to the Trust asking to submit a compliance report.

Once operational, the university will offer studies and research in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). According, to the government official, "Acharpura is being developed as special education zone with an investment of approximately Rs 71 crore on an area of 140 hectares, where as many as 19 educational institutes are coming up. Also, a number of industrial units will also come in proximity." The special education zone is expected to come up by next year.