With the aim to generate resources for maintenance of its facilities, Delhi University is planning to rent out its premises including the two swanky stadiums upgraded for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
“Delhi University has decided to offer infrastructural facilities on rent to the varsity-affiliated colleges, other institutions and NGOs. However, they will be strictly rented out for non-commercial purposes,” said DU’s Media Coordinator and Joint Dean of Students’ Welfare Malay Neerav.
“The aim is to garner operational as well as maintenance cost, both long term and short term,” he said. A decision in this regard was taken in the university’s Executive Council meeting on Thursday.
The infrastructural facilities available for rent will include the Rugby Stadium, Polo Ground, Conference Centre, Academic Research Centre, Activity Centre, Shankar Lal Concert Hall, and Tagore Hall.
Asked why the varsity-affiliated colleges have to pay for using the facilities, Neerav said, “Colleges have facilities in their respective campuses for routine programmes. However, if they organise something at a bigger scale and utilise the facilities they have pay for operational cost like air-conditioning and lighting.”
He said the university authorities have taken the move after evaluating maintenance cost of the facilities. Hiring the University Stadium or Polo Ground, which were upgraded for the Commonwealth Games at an expenditure of Rs. 100 crore, will cost anything between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 3 lakh per day.
While colleges of Delhi University will be able to book the premises with permission from Deputy Registrar (Estate), the institutions and organisations outside the varsity’s fold will have to take permission from the Registrar.
For hiring the stadium facilities, a recommendation needs to be obtained from the Chairman of DU Sports Council, before submitting the request to the Deputy Registrar (Estate).
