Construction of the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh under way at China Medapalli in Mentada mandal of Vizianagaram district.
| Photo Credit: V. RAJU
VIZIANAGARAM
Management of the Central Tribal University of A.P. hopes to begin the 2025-26 academic year in its own buildings atChina Madapalliin Mentada mandal, around 26 km from Vizianagaram city, according to sources.
The university has been functioning on the old AU campus in Vizianagaram since 2019 and currently has 400 students. With the availability of additional classrooms, laboratories and other facilities, it plans to increase the number to 1,200.
The institution, a key promise in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act enacted a decade ago, is the second tribal university in the country—the first being the one at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
Story so far
The journey up to this point, however, has not been smooth. Uncertainty over its location had often thrown a spanner in the works.
The TDP government led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, which ruled the State between 2014 and 2019, had selected Relli in Kothavalasa mandal for the university and even allocated around 526 acres, complete with a boundary wall.
But the YSRCP regime, which came to power in 2019, changed the location to China Madapalli and allocated around 562 acres. The Centre accepted the Detailed Project Report and promised financial support for the university’s construction at this location.
In August 2023, the then Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan and the then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone for the project.
But when the NDA dispensation, led by the TDP, returned to power in 2024, many local leaders of the party demanded that the university be constructed in Relli itself, causing much distress for the university management.
Following a request by Vice-Chancellor T.V. Kattimani, however, the new NDA regime consented to constructing the university at China Madapalli site. The sources said the Chandrababu Naidu-led government realised that changing the location to Relli would further delay the university getting a permanent campus.
The State government is the final authority in selecting and allocating land for the university, which is funded by the Union government, under the provisions of the Act. It is expected to provide around ₹800 crore in phases for the institution’s construction.
The university management hopes to build the administrative, academic and hostel buildings in the first phase by April-May, according to sources.
Admission
Admission to seats in courses offered by the university will be through the Common University Entrance Test.Candidates from across the country are expected to appear for the examination this year. Candidates from all communities can join the university.
Central PSU Mecon Limited, tasked with constructing the university buildings, hopes to complete five blocks in a few months. Project in charge K. Devid Raju told The Hindu that the entire construction would be completed by June 2027. The Centre has allocated around ₹300 crore so far.
In phase II, Mecon will construct an auditorium that can seat 1,000 people; a central library; a central science lab; a men’s hostel; an indoor sports block; residential quarters for faculty members and other staff; and the V-C’s bungalow, he said.
Dr. Kattimani said a few acres would be allocated to grow medicinal plants to help students understand the preparation of medicines.
Vizianagaram District Collector B.R. Ambedkar has directed the officials concerned to supply water and electricity and provide other facilities as sought by the university. He said the government would lay two approach roads to the university from the Visakhapatnam-Raipur highway. Since land acquisition has been completed, the road construction, too, would begin soon, he said.
Sources said the proposed international airport at Bhogapuram will help professors and others from across the country reach the university for seminars, workshops and other academic activities.
The location is also near a forest area in Parvatipuram-Manyam district, which can help students learn and research about tribal culture, traditions and medicine, the sources said.
Published – March 08, 2025 12:47 am IST
