Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is set to launch an ambitious project, establishing an educational hub in Wathoda, catering to students from ‘KG to PG’ (Kindergarten to Post Graduation). The project, to be executed in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, aims to provide world-class facilities and create an international-level educational centre for Nagpur’s residents. NMC has decided to float tenders to start the educational hub.
The NMC plans to lease just over 18 hectares (45 acres) of its land in Wathoda for a period of 30 years under the PPP model. The leased land will be divided into two categories — approximately two hectares allocated for school facilities (nursery to XII), and the remaining 16 hectares designated for higher education. This expansive space allows universities to establish off-campus centres as well.
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Saturday 01 Feb. 2025
The lease agreement includes an annual rent escalation of 5%, and the Municipal Commissioner and Administrator, Abhijeet Chaudhari, announced a 20% tuition fee discount for Nagpur citizens. Additionally, educational institutions participating in the project are mandated to reserve 25% of the seats for residents of Nagpur, enhancing local access to quality education.
With nearly five acres allocated for the school section, the educational hub has the potential for substantial infrastructure development. This allocation represents a five-fold increase from the average land size of schools in Nagpur city, allowing for the seamless integration of the entire pre-primary to higher secondary education structure.
The project aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP), which now encompasses pre-primary education. Previously, the education system recognized schools from Standard I onwards, leaving pre-primary sections functioning as individual entities. The inclusion of pre-primary education within the project broadens its scope and aligns with evolving educational standards.
The 16 hectares designated for higher education aims to accommodate over 4,000 students. The NMC emphasizes that 50% of the curriculum should be vocation-based, aligning with the objective of producing job-ready graduates. This strategic emphasis on vocational education reflects the NMC’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the job market.
The NMC’s initiative to establish an educational hub in Wathoda demonstrates a commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and infrastructure in Nagpur. The project’s multi-faceted approach, encompassing citizen benefits, pre-primary education, and vocational training, positions it as a significant step towards creating a thriving educational ecosystem for the city’s residents. The success of this venture is eagerly anticipated, as it holds the potential to positively impact the future of education in Nagpur.
