VC says Metro in Jamia will affect campus life
6 Aug 2012 3:30 PM IST
The proposed Metro station inside the campus of Jamia Milia Islamia in the capital has landed in a controversy with Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Vice Chancellor Najib Jung opposing the move saying it would bring in security issues and may disrupt campus life. However, the people in the area seem to differ with Kurshid and Jung as they think the Metro connectivity will be a big boon for the area and will also benefit the students of the Central University.
Khurshid had red-flagged the construction of the Jamia Nagar station reportedly saying that the station could prove to be a security threat and ‘spoil the sanctity’ of the institute. Jung also spoke in the same vein contending that a station inside the campus will have security issues and may disrupt campus life in the area.
‘I have no objection to the Metro. It is a very good idea. Our only objection is to a Metro station being inside the campus because it brings major security issues for us, he said. Two stations have been proposed on either side of the road that leads to the campus, one near Escorts Hospital and the other close to Jamia police station.
‘It is not needed to have a station inside the campus. Rs 70 crore government money spent on this station is not needed and it will have security issues for girls who come from the interiors of the country,’ the Vice Chancellor said.
When contacted, local MLA Asif Mohammad Khan said the Metro could change its alignment and convert it to an underground station.
Khan said he spoke to the Vice Chancellor in this regard and contended that the elevated station can be converted into an underground one so that the campus is not disturbed.
Though work on the station has not yet started fully, a Delhi Metro spokesman said, ‘We will not cause any inconvenience to the university while carrying out construction. The students will be hugely benefited by the station.’
Residents of Zakir Nagar and Batla House in the area say they would be benefited immensely by the Metro station in Jamia campus.
Delhi Metro’s Detailed Project Report on the corridor says the station would benefit over 18,000 people a day. ‘The other two stations - near Escorts and the police station- are very far from Zakir Nagar and Batla House. People living here will find it difficult to walk to these stations to catch a Metro,’ said Arif Khan, a student of Jamia who travels from Nizamuddin every day.
He also feels that a Metro station will bring more development to the area.
FEE HIKE IN JAMIA RUFFLES FEATHERS
The recent 60 per cent fee hike by the Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), has surprised many students.
Most students of MA, Mass Communication (Final) are finding it difficult to arrange the requisite funds at such a short notice, claimed students. They have also written an application to the authorities to reconsider the decision to hike the fee.
In a letter signed by all 50 Final year students of MCRC, complainants stated, ‘We will be unable to pay our fee till our grievances are redressed.’
The students said, ‘Being a non self-financing course, MA Mass Communication is funded by UGC, keeping in mind all the expenses of the course. Other government institutions of similar standing and reputation, for example, JNU, FTII and IIMC, have not seen a similar incident of a fee hike in recent years.’
‘Coming from different economic and social backgrounds, we came with a planned budget, on merit basis into the institute, and a fee hike in the middle of the course is difficult to deal with.’
They also claimed that the notification for the hike was not displayed on the notice board. ‘When we asked the Student’s Section for confirmation of the amount, they seemed baffled and gave vague responses, even until last week.’
Later, they said, ‘We all are a part of a premiere institute and feel lucky to be chosen to receive such facilities. But the fee hike is making it difficult for some of us to continue with our education.’
MCRC director Obain Siddiqui said, ‘I am not the right person to talk to media on behalf of the university.’
VARSITY GIRLS GO GREAT GUNS
There has been increase of about 12 per cent in girl students in Jamia Millia Islamia, following a 10 per cent reservation for girls. With this, the percentage of girls on the campus has crossed 30 per cent.
‘Our aim is to increase this representation to 50 per cent. It will be our endeavour to make the campus a safe place for the girl student,’ said Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung. And the increase is not confined to traditionally popular courses but to courses like engineering too. ‘It is heartening to see girl students opting for engineering in large numbers,’ Jung said.
According to Khalid Moin, dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, seats reserved for girls were the fastest to be filled this year. And girls from outside Delhi constituted the majority.
Khurshid had red-flagged the construction of the Jamia Nagar station reportedly saying that the station could prove to be a security threat and ‘spoil the sanctity’ of the institute. Jung also spoke in the same vein contending that a station inside the campus will have security issues and may disrupt campus life in the area.
‘I have no objection to the Metro. It is a very good idea. Our only objection is to a Metro station being inside the campus because it brings major security issues for us, he said. Two stations have been proposed on either side of the road that leads to the campus, one near Escorts Hospital and the other close to Jamia police station.
‘It is not needed to have a station inside the campus. Rs 70 crore government money spent on this station is not needed and it will have security issues for girls who come from the interiors of the country,’ the Vice Chancellor said.
When contacted, local MLA Asif Mohammad Khan said the Metro could change its alignment and convert it to an underground station.
Khan said he spoke to the Vice Chancellor in this regard and contended that the elevated station can be converted into an underground one so that the campus is not disturbed.
Though work on the station has not yet started fully, a Delhi Metro spokesman said, ‘We will not cause any inconvenience to the university while carrying out construction. The students will be hugely benefited by the station.’
Residents of Zakir Nagar and Batla House in the area say they would be benefited immensely by the Metro station in Jamia campus.
Delhi Metro’s Detailed Project Report on the corridor says the station would benefit over 18,000 people a day. ‘The other two stations - near Escorts and the police station- are very far from Zakir Nagar and Batla House. People living here will find it difficult to walk to these stations to catch a Metro,’ said Arif Khan, a student of Jamia who travels from Nizamuddin every day.
He also feels that a Metro station will bring more development to the area.
FEE HIKE IN JAMIA RUFFLES FEATHERS
The recent 60 per cent fee hike by the Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), has surprised many students.
Most students of MA, Mass Communication (Final) are finding it difficult to arrange the requisite funds at such a short notice, claimed students. They have also written an application to the authorities to reconsider the decision to hike the fee.
In a letter signed by all 50 Final year students of MCRC, complainants stated, ‘We will be unable to pay our fee till our grievances are redressed.’
The students said, ‘Being a non self-financing course, MA Mass Communication is funded by UGC, keeping in mind all the expenses of the course. Other government institutions of similar standing and reputation, for example, JNU, FTII and IIMC, have not seen a similar incident of a fee hike in recent years.’
‘Coming from different economic and social backgrounds, we came with a planned budget, on merit basis into the institute, and a fee hike in the middle of the course is difficult to deal with.’
They also claimed that the notification for the hike was not displayed on the notice board. ‘When we asked the Student’s Section for confirmation of the amount, they seemed baffled and gave vague responses, even until last week.’
Later, they said, ‘We all are a part of a premiere institute and feel lucky to be chosen to receive such facilities. But the fee hike is making it difficult for some of us to continue with our education.’
MCRC director Obain Siddiqui said, ‘I am not the right person to talk to media on behalf of the university.’
VARSITY GIRLS GO GREAT GUNS
There has been increase of about 12 per cent in girl students in Jamia Millia Islamia, following a 10 per cent reservation for girls. With this, the percentage of girls on the campus has crossed 30 per cent.
‘Our aim is to increase this representation to 50 per cent. It will be our endeavour to make the campus a safe place for the girl student,’ said Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung. And the increase is not confined to traditionally popular courses but to courses like engineering too. ‘It is heartening to see girl students opting for engineering in large numbers,’ Jung said.
According to Khalid Moin, dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, seats reserved for girls were the fastest to be filled this year. And girls from outside Delhi constituted the majority.
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