PAU gets Rs 20 crore from Punjab government for infrastructure development

NEW DELHI: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has secured the first installment of Rs 20 crore as part of the Rs 40 crore grant-in-aid allocated by the Punjab Government for the development of capital assets. This grant, an initiative from the state government to university, was announced in the 2024-25 state budget, acknowledging PAU’s role in fostering agricultural advancement and rural development. The allocated funds are specifically for building capital infrastructure, which will enhance the university’s Research, Teaching, and Extension (RTE) programmes.

Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor of PAU, extended gratitude to the Punjab Government for grant allocation. He commended chief minister Bhagwant Mann and finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema for recognizing the university’s contributions to the agricultural sector. He said that the grant comes at an important time, marking over 60 years of PAU’s service to the state and the nation. Gosal further stated that the financial support would be instrumental in accelerating the university’s infrastructure development. He remarked that it would act as a catalyst in strengthening PAU’s Research, Teaching, and Extension (RTE) programmes.

“This grant underscores the government’s commitment to education and the welfare of the farming community, and it comes at a time when PAU has rendered more than six decades of dedicated service to the state and the nation,” remarked Gosal.

Also read PAU prepares for infrastructure overhaul with Punjab government's Rs 40 crore grant

Upgrade PAU campus infrastructure

Satbir Singh Gosal outlined that the Rs 20 crore grant would be strategically allocated to enhance several facilities across PAU's campus. The funding will support the upgradation of student amenities, hostels, guest houses, residential quarters, and the modernization of the library, auditoria, and committee rooms. High-speed fibre-optic internet services will also be expanded to ensure seamless connectivity across the university.

Cutting-edge agricultural facilities

In addition to essential civil and electrical infrastructure improvements, PAU plans to establish a state-of-the-art agro-processing centre and a gene bank. To bolster its focus on cutting-edge agricultural practices, the university will procure advanced research equipment for the School of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, aiming to foster innovations in emerging technologies critical to the future of farming.

Contribution to sustainable agriculture

As per the PAU’s official press release, these efforts are expected to improve PAU’s capacity to develop climate-resilient, biofortified, and trait-specific crop varieties, driving a shift toward more sustainable agriculture. Gosal reaffirmed the university’s commitment to upholding its high standards of research and education, emphasizing PAU’s ongoing mission to serve the farming community through innovative solutions.