50,000 engineering seats may go abegging this year

It is curtains for EAMCET certificate verification and change of options and like previous year, this time too authorities are expecting that nearly 50,000 engineering seats to be vacant in the State.

This is certain as only 81,972 qualified candidates attended the certificate verification and of them 81,695 exercised their web options. Interestingly, of the 1.20 lakh qualified candidates, nearly 27,000 candidates have failed in Intermediate examinations and this will pile up more vacant seats.

There are 324 engineering colleges and 120 pharmacy colleges in the State, which offer nearly 1.80 lakh seats, including engineering, pharmacy and other 30 courses. Authorities are releasing the seat allotments on the web on Friday.

“Compared to last year, there is increase of 22 per cent in students attending certificate verification process.

Though it is uncertain, we expect nearly 50,000 seats to remain vacant. Last year too close to 50,000 seats were vacant,” said a senior official.

The second phase counselling would commence in a week and there would be clarity on vacant seats as students attending NIT, IIIT and other competitive examination counselling would be complete, the official added.

The counselling commenced much ahead this year compared to last year (September 6) and most college managements’ see this as a good sign. Last year, the academic year was marred with bifurcation disturbances and political uncertainty and as a result many seats were vacant.

The government’s announcement that fee reimbursement would be extended this year too gives some respite to managements. More importantly, the same facility would be offered to students hailing from Telangana State, if they meet all the provisions of a local student here, said a member of the Krishna District Engineering College Managements Association.

An amount of Rs.2,665 crore was released under fee reimbursement during 2014-15 for 14.65 lakh students including 1.06 lakh minority students pursuing post-matric courses (Intermediate, degree, professional courses).