CTUAP set to shift to permanent campus by year end

Visakhapatnam: Nearly seven years after its inception, the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh (CTUAP), located in Vizianagaram district, has moved beyond its formative years and is steadily expanding its academic footprint.

The university is developing its permanent campus at an estimated cost of Rs 305 crore, with the overall project scheduled for completion in 2027.

Officials said the university plans to shift to the new campus in Dec, when the core infrastructure is expected to be ready, while the remaining works will be completed by June 2027.Marking another significant milestone, the university will hold its first convocation on Tuesday, June 30, with President Droupadi Murmu attending the ceremony as the chief guest.

The university will confer degrees on around 370 students during the inaugural convocation, including 13 gold medallists.Speaking to TOI, chancellor prof Madan Lal Meena said the institution currently has around 690 students and has witnessed steady growth despite operating from a temporary transit campus in Vizianagaram. “We began functioning in 2019 with just two academic programmes. Today, we offer 14 programmes.

Considering that we are operating from a temporary campus with severe space constraints, the progress has been encouraging,” he said.The permanent campus is coming up on 562 acres at Chinamedapalli-Marrivalasa villages, about 40 km from Vizianagaram town. Once operational, it will remove existing space limitations and enable the university to introduce new academic programmes and significantly expand student facilities.Prof Meena said the Union govt has recently sanctioned 40 additional faculty positions, paving the way for further academic growth. Vice-chancellor Prof T Srinivasan said the university will be honoured to host President Droupadi Murmu, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, governor Abdul Nazeer, and AP education minister Nara Lokesh at its first convocation.“While the university has a special mandate for tribal welfare, it is open to students from all sections of society.

There is a perception that because this is a Central Tribal University, it is meant exclusively for tribal students. That is not the case. We are a Central University with an additional responsibility towards tribal welfare. Admissions are open to everyone, and we strictly follow the Union govt‘s reservation policy,” he said.According to Prof. Srinivasan, the first convocation, originally proposed for June last year, had to be postponed.

“Students have been eagerly awaiting the ceremony. The support extended by both the Central and state governments has been instrumental in the university’s progress. Our focus is on both academic excellence and tribal development,” he said.The vice-chancellor said the shift to the permanent campus would transform the student experience. “At present, the university functions from a transit campus spread over only about 20,000 square feet, limiting the availability of hostels, sports infrastructure, library facilities and other student amenities.

The new 562-acre campus will provide modern classrooms, hostels, playgrounds, laboratories, libraries and other facilities that students presently do not have access to.

This will significantly improve both academic and campus life,” he said.Prof Srinivasan also believes that the President’s visit will enhance the university’s visibility across the country. “The visit of the President will help dispel the misconception that the university is meant only for tribal communities. It will showcase that this is a Central University serving the entire nation while carrying an additional mandate for tribal welfare. Greater public awareness will benefit both the institution and prospective students,” he added.