Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is facing a significant financial crunch and has devised plans to generate revenue by monetising two key properties. The university aims to either redevelop or lease out these assets to private entities to create a steady income stream.
The two properties under consideration are the Gomti Guest House and the building at 35 Feroz Shah Road. The university is also planning to request the education ministry to charge rent to the 12 national institutes currently operating on its campus, according to The New Indian Express.
JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit has outlined the university’s financial struggles, emphasising that the lack of revenue is largely due to the extensive subsidies provided by the Centre. JNU has been pushing for the Institute of Eminence status, which would bring in a substantial corpus that could ease its financial strain.
Regarding the monetisation plan, the university is exploring options such as redeveloping the 35 Feroz Shah Road property through a public-private partnership, which would require approval from the Centre. Similarly, JNU plans to lease out the Gomti Guest House, located near the FICCI building, to a private entity. This would help offset the maintenance costs, which currently burden the university with no returns, as reported by The New Indian Express.
In addition, JNU is seeking to formalise rental agreements with the national institutes on its campus that have been operating rent-free. The rent collected from these institutes could provide a stable source of income for the university, which has limited options for raising funds due to constraints on fee increases.
The university is also taking steps to reduce its operational costs by installing solar panels on the campus, as electricity remains one of its highest expenses.