New Delhi – In a transformative move set to redefine the learning environment for professional courses, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has launched a dedicated infrastructure development initiative for its School of Engineering and Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship — the first of its kind since their establishment in 2018.
Approved under the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) scheme, the ₹483.66-crore plan includes the construction of a new academic complex and separate residential hostels for the two schools, addressing longstanding concerns about infrastructure gaps.
A State-of-the-Art Academic Hub
With an investment of ₹142 crore, the upcoming 29,000 sqm academic block will include:
- Technology-enabled lecture halls
- Advanced simulation and experimentation spaces
- Faculty rooms and research zones
- Dedicated interdisciplinary collaboration spaces
- Specialized labs catering to engineering and business education
This marks a significant shift for JNU, traditionally known for its shared academic spaces and centralised infrastructure. The initiative responds to increasing student demands for facilities aligned with the schools’ higher fee structures and professional orientation.
First-Ever Dedicated Hostels for Specific Programmes
In a major deviation from JNU’s shared accommodation model, the new infrastructure includes two hostels tailored to the specific needs of the engineering and management students:
- Engineering Hostel: ₹126.69 crore, 34,500 sqm, capacity for 1,950 students. Features include fully-furnished rooms, study lounges, dining halls, and landscaped open spaces.
- Management Hostel: ₹42.23 crore, 11,500 sqm, capacity for 650 students. It will feature modular living units and collaborative workspaces suitable for MBA-level study.
This is the first time JNU is constructing hostels dedicated to particular academic programmes. Even the Barak hostel, initially proposed for students from the Northeast, was later opened to all.
Addressing Fee-Infrastructure Disparity
Students and faculty have long voiced concerns about the disparity between premium fee structures and infrastructure quality. Currently, MBA students pay ₹12 lakh (general), ₹8 lakh (OBC-NCL), and ₹6 lakh (SC/ST/PWD) for the full-time programme — significantly higher than the university’s traditionally subsidized education model.
The new facilities are designed to close this gap and enhance the academic experience for professional courses.
A Future-Ready Campus Vision
The project is part of a broader vision to make JNU a modern, research-intensive university. Additional infrastructure works approved under HEFA include:
- A trans-disciplinary academic and research block (₹41.24 crore)
- An advanced animal research facility (₹22.92 crore)
- An upgraded instrumentation research facility (₹27.05 crore)
- A start-up incubation centre (₹17.69 crore)
- A 2,000-seat lecture hall complex (₹52.85 crore)
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit remarked, “These developments are a turning point in JNU’s evolution. Our commitment to holistic development and the National Education Policy 2020 ensures that we’re creating a campus that is truly future-ready.”
Implications for Urban Campus Planning
This expansion reflects a broader trend in Indian higher education institutions integrating discipline-specific infrastructure within multi-disciplinary campuses. The inclusion of green spaces, modular design, and co-learning environments echoes contemporary urban and campus planning principles that focus on flexibility, sustainability, and community engagement.