Nagpur: In a significant move towards bolstering Nagpur’s status as a global education hub, the Maharashtra Government has given its nod to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to lease a land parcel spanning 18.35 hectares in Bhandewadi for the establishment of a prestigious educational institution in the city. This decision underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure and opportunities in the region.
The NMC forwarded a proposal to the Urban Development Department (UDD), expressing its intent to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM), a renowned educational institution based in Mumbai. This collaboration signifies a strategic partnership aimed at leveraging the expertise and resources of both entities to establish a world-class educational facility in Nagpur.
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Under the proposed agreement, the land parcel will be provided to Shri Vile Parle Kelvani Mandal at a rate below the market value. The lease duration for this premium land is set at 30 years, allowing for long-term planning and sustainable development. Notably, the Bhandewadi area, once notorious for its landfill site, has undergone transformation through effective waste management technologies, freeing up substantial land for redevelopment initiatives.
The decision to allocate land for educational purposes aligns with the government’s vision to create an educational hub in Nagpur. In recent years, concerted efforts have been made to attract established educational institutions from Pune and Mumbai known for their track record in delivering quality education. The successful establishment of the Symbiosis Institute’s Centre for Excellence in the Wathoda-Bhandewadi area underscores the potential for growth and excellence in the educational sector.
The influx of international students into institutes specializing in architecture, management, and law at the Wathoda campus highlights the growing appeal of Nagpur as an educational destination. The forthcoming collaboration with Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal is poised to further diversify educational offerings, with a focus on both school and college education. This expansion is expected to cater to the evolving needs of students and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
As to Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal, it is a well known society that runs a host of prominent education institutes in Mumbai area, notable among them in Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics and Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, one of the most sought after college for management education and it figures in top 10 Business Colleges of country.
The society was formed in 1930 and it runs over two dozen institutes running courses of law, commerce, arts, science, pharmacy, technology, polytechnic. They also run a couple of schools including one of Military Schools at Shirur in Dhule district. As per the notification of UDD, a committee headed by Municipal Commissioner, NMC, will decide the annual lease fees as well as security fee. The committee is empowered to provide concessions for determining lease amount that could be lower than the ready reckoner rate. Since the Municipal Commissioner is Chairman of Rent and Deposit Determination Committee, its decision will be considered final.
It may be remembered that NMC House had adopted a resolution on June 28, 2023, earmarking 18.35 Ha of land in Bhandewadi for setting-up an education institute of eminence having courses from Nursery to Higher Education. Going by experience of Symbiosis, the MoU that was later inked with Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal would have a clause about reserving some seats in each of the courses for students of Nagpur city.
