Osmania University VC Prof Kumar inspects Mirzapur PG centre, seeks protection of campus assets

Hyderabad: Vice-Chancellor of Osmania University, Prof Kumar Molugaram, inspected the OU Post Graduate Centre in Mirzapur, Sangareddy district, on Monday.

This inspection is a part of the decision of the university to protect its assets and attend to ageing infrastructure.

Dilapidated campus buildings

Mirzapur in Sangareddy district has a post-graduate college and a huge sprawling campus.

On his visit with Prof S Jithendra Kumar Naik and a team of senior administrators, Prof Kumar Molugaram issued urgent orders to secure university property and address the ‘highly dilapidated’ state of campus buildings.

Cracking down on encroachment

The focal point of the inspection was the 40-acre land bank earmarked for the PG Centre. Amid growing concerns over property security, Prof Molugaram announced the formation of a Special Land Protection Committee.

“Safeguarding the university’s property is a top priority,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

Fears of land encroachment in Sangareddy

With the Future City plans and the recent real estate boom in the region, there is a worry that the open land must not be encroached upon.

The new committee is tasked with drafting a robust anti-encroachment strategy and fortifying campus boundaries to ensure that university land remains reserved strictly for academic expansion and student welfare.

Infrastructure audit

Restoring the ageing campus, Prof Kumar walked through classrooms, hostels and staff quarters considering the dilapidated and neglected structures.

“Several structures are in critical condition, and the infrastructure needs to be improved. There is also a safety concern in structures that are not stable,” he said.

He directed the engineering wing to begin planning for large-scale maintenance and imminent repairs. The goal is to restore the functionality of the Mirzapur campus, which has long struggled with maintenance backlogs, to provide a dignified living and learning space for students and faculty.

Why is the OU VC conducting these inspections?

Since assuming office as the 26th Vice-Chancellor in late 2024, Prof. Kumar Molugaram has made multiple ‘surprise inspections’, a cornerstone of his administration for several key reasons:

Enforcing Academic Accountability: Recent inspections have seen the VC physically verifying faculty attendance registers and interacting with students to ensure that lectures are being held according to the official timetable.

Response to Student Grievances: The visits follow a wave of student complaints regarding cracked walls, damp hostel rooms and irregular mess services. By visiting these sites personally, the VC aims to bypass bureaucratic delays and order immediate corrective measures.

Strategic Revamp (DPR): These inspections are part of a broader mission to elevate Osmania University to international standards, aligning with the State government’s vision to transform OU into a globally reputed institution of excellence.

Direct Engagement: By interacting directly with faculty and administrative staff at peripheral centres like Mirzapur, the VC is working to identify localised challenges that are often overlooked at the main campus in Hyderabad.

These inspections and visits are to reaffirm the university’s commitment to academic excellence. “The university is dedicated to restoring our infrastructure and protecting our legacy assets to create an environment where our students can thrive,” Prof. Molugaram emphasised.