Music university’s long saga of delays and makeshift arrangements set to end

The Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University in Mysuru is set to achieve a major milestone this month.

For, the administrative wing of the varsity will shift to the new campus marking a complete transition from the old campus in Lakshmipuram here, from where it functioned since its inception in 2008-09.

The music classes have already been operating on the new campus since the current academic year began in July 2025; but with the shifting of the administrative block, the university will have a fully unified campus for the first time, bringing all academic and administrative activities under one roof, according to Nagesh Bettakote, Vice-Chancellor.

He said it had been a 16-year-long wait for a full-fledged infrastructure and campus of its own. The administrative wing, which continued to operate from the old Lakshmipuram premises, would shift to the new location on December 15, 2025, he added.

The newly built campus at Sardar Vallabhbhai Nagar, along the Outer Ring Road, spans six acres and had been conceived as a self-contained academic space. It features eight ‘kutiras’ for practical training and four high-tech classrooms equipped with digital boards for seminars, workshops and theory sessions, said Prof. Bettakote.

The administration block has been constructed at a cost of ₹4.95 crore, while another ₹4.85 crore had gone into the classroom and ‘kutira’ complex. University officials noted that the entire project was executed using internal resources after sustained efforts over the past two years.

All undergraduate and postgraduate classes are now being conducted on the new premises, which the university describes as an “ideal atmosphere for learning music”.

“The old campus will continue to be used to conduct State-level special examinations — including junior, senior and vidwat exams — besides hosting evening and certificate courses. The university currently served 659 students from private institutions operating under MoUs,” said Prof. Bettakote.

The music varsity, the first of its kind in the State, has 123 DLitt students, 46 PhD students, 121 students pursuing their master’s in music and 34 students in the undergraduate section.

The new campus with its ‘kutiras’ adjoining the Chamundi Hills provided the perfect ambience for learning music and classical art forms. Though students initially complained of distance, the pros neutralised the cons, said the Vice-Chancellor.

The Lakshmipuram campus was an ad hoc arrangement; it was originally a primary school building from where the varsity functioned. Its sustained efforts ensured that land was granted and fulfilled the need for independent infrastructure.

Lack of a full-fledged campus was one of the factors which made the varsity ineligible for UGC grants and with the new infrastructure, there are hopes that it will strengthen its case for funds for expansion.