It’s official. The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) will be shifted from Bengaluru to Ramanagaram. The process will begin on Sunday. The new campus will be around 40 km away from Bengaluru.
All departments of the university would be shifted by June 2017, according to Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is Minister in charge of Ramanagaram district.
College managements have opposed the move and submitted a petition to Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Mr. Shivakumar and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil on Friday called on Mr. Vala to discuss the issue. They explained the necessity of shifting the university outside the city.
Addressing mediapersons on Saturday, Mr. Shivakumar said the Governor wants the government to safeguard the interest of students while shifting the campus.
The JD(S)-BJP coalition government had taken the decision to shift the campus in 2006. Later, the State legislature passed a Bill to this effect.
Citing examples of the shifting Visvesvaraya Technological University to Belagavi and Women’s University to Vijayapura, Mr. Shivakumar said no student would be affected by the shift since classes will be held in the respective medical colleges in various districts.
He pointed out that Ramanagaram was a part of Bengaluru before the formation of Bengaluru Rural district.
The delay in shifting the campus was due to court cases and lack of commitment in the political leadership, the Minister said.
