Bihar
Patna University Prepares for Major Relocation
Patna University, established in 1917, is relocating its administrative office from Ashok Rajpath to a new G+8 complex at Krishna Ghat. Around 18 postgraduate departments will also move from Darbhanga House to a new G+9 academic block. Both buildings, built by BSEIDC for Rs 139 crore, are nearly complete, with the shift expected by December. Darbhanga House, a former palace acquired in 1955, has struggled to accommodate growing student numbers, prompting the construction of the new academic facility. The administrative complex will house key university offices, while the academic block will feature a cafeteria, library, and reading room.
Patna University (PU), founded in 1917, is gearing up to move its historic administrative headquarters from Ashok Rajpath to a modern G+8 storey complex under construction at Krishna Ghat. Concurrently, approximately 18 postgraduate departments in the humanities and social sciences will transition from the 70-year-old Darbhanga House to a new G+9 academic facility nearby.
The Bihar State Educational Infrastructural Development Corporation (BSEIDC) is overseeing the construction of both buildings at a combined cost of Rs 139 crore. With construction nearing completion, the facilities are expected to be transferred to PU soon. According to PU engineer Sachin Dayal, the administrative office and all postgraduate departments currently at Darbhanga House are slated to relocate to their new premises by December this year.
PU’s administrative office has a history of relocation. Initially, it operated from a section of the newly established Patna High Court for five years. In 1922, it shifted to offices near Golghar, previously occupied by the Board of Revenue. By 1928, under Vice-Chancellor Sir Sultan Ahmad, PU settled into its own building on Ashok Rajpath, where it has remained for nearly a century.
File Image :Darbhanga House, Patna University
Darbhanga House, originally a palace constructed in 1901 on a 15-acre estate, was acquired by PU in 1955 from the former Maharaja of Darbhanga for Rs 7 lakh. It has since served as the hub for postgraduate humanities and social sciences departments. The building, characterized by its wooden staircases, decorative friezes, and spacious verandas, underwent minor renovations by BSEIDC about ten years ago. However, its capacity has been strained by the growing student population, making it challenging to support academic activities effectively.
“The rising student enrollment across various programs has made Darbhanga House’s classroom space inadequate for smooth academic operations, necessitating the new academic block,” explained development officer Khagendra Kumar. The new G+9 academic building will include a ground-floor cafeteria, an average of two departments per upper floor, a library, and a dedicated reading room. After the relocation, Darbhanga House is expected to be repurposed for use by Vanijya Mahavidyalaya.
The new administrative complex will house essential university functions, including general administration, establishment, and registration, as well as offices for the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, syndicate, academic council, and a conference hall, according to Kumar.