Chandigarh, January 6, 2026 — Panjab University has been allocated just a small portion of the money it was promised by the Punjab government for expanding student hostels, leaving administrators and students frustrated over continued accommodation shortages.
The state government had approved nearly ₹49 crore for construction and expansion of boys’ and girls’ hostel facilities at the university. However, the varsity has so far received only about ₹5 crore, which amounts to roughly 10 % of the total amount sanctioned. This initial release was designated as a mobilisation advance for the financial year 2025-26, intended to kick-start limited work on the projects.
Officials at Panjab University have pointed out that this sum is far too small to begin substantial construction and does not cover the scale of work needed to address the chronic shortage of hostel space. With tens of thousands of students enrolled on campus and existing hostels already filled to capacity, pressure on accommodation infrastructure has been mounting for years.
The approved funds are meant for new construction of Boys’ Hostel No. 9 and additional floors on Girls’ Hostel No. 11, both of which have been delayed due to the slow release of money. Campus authorities noted that while the sanctioned grants were announced in 2023, actual disbursement of funds was stalled for more than a year, further delaying progress.
Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig confirmed the partial release of funds and said that the university will need to use the advance within the current fiscal year. She also indicated that a larger instalment — potentially around ₹35 crore — is expected in the next budget cycle to keep the projects moving forward.
The limited funding has renewed calls from student groups for more consistent financial support and faster execution of infrastructure projects. Many students have said that lack of hostel space forces them to look for costly private accommodations outside the campus.
In addition to the hostel grant, Panjab University is waiting for other pending funds, including grants to clear staff salary arrears and scholarship allocations — both of which are yet to be released and are seen as key to improving overall campus facilities.