Delhi Delhi LG VK Saxena and CM Arvind Kejriwal inaugurate GGSIPU Campus amid heated debate over project ownership
New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal jointly inaugurated the east Delhi campus of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) on Thursday following a war of words as both sides tried to take credit for the project.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Delhi Education Minister Atishi declared that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal would inaugurate the GGSIPU campus.
Soon after, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s office issued a statement, expressing dismay over the announcement, and asserting that it had been already decided that he would open the new premises of the university.
The LG’s office said that the matter was decided and put on file back in March 2023 and the LG had even agreed to change the date from March 23 to June 8 at the request of the chief minister to accommodate his schedule.
The GGSIPU campus, a project that was conceptualized in 2013, was built at a cost of Rs 387 crore. "The campus building was funded by GGSIPU itself. Out of the total cost of Rs 387 crore, the Delhi government share was Rs 41 crore which was paid in three installments, the last of which was released on June 5, 2023," the LG's office said.
Inaugurated the East Delhi Campus of GGSIP University. Built at a cost of Rs 387 cr, primarily through self-financing by GGSIPU (Rs 346 cr) & Rs 41 cr from Govt, the project was initiated in 2013 & foundation stone was laid in Dec 2014 by the then Union HRD Minister @smritiirani. pic.twitter.com/3WuUTMZhEO
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 8, 2023
The new campus of the university will have the School of Planning and Architecture from July, in addition to the already present School of Automation and Robotics and School of Design and Innovation.
In response to the statement by the LG’s office, Atishi argued the GGSIPU campus was the brainchild and dream project of Manish Sisodia, who had been involved with every aspect, its planning, supervising its construction and curriculum.
She claimed that GGSIPU campus is part of three state university campuses the Kejriwal government is developing in the trans-Yamuna region.
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