Updated on: Friday, April 12, 2013
When the new academic year begins, Goa's lone and state university will add a new three-storied spacious life sciences block to its current infrastructure. For over four years now, the science block for the Goa University is being constructed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) at an estimated cost of 20.38 crore.
"The department of life sciences and all major life sciences, such as the microbiology and biotechnology departments of the Goa University, will relocate to the new science block. The building should be ready by the new academic year," said a source at the varsity.
As per the contract, the stipulated date for the completion of the construction, tendered in 2007, was March 17, 2009.
Sources said that as the project is a major one consisting of a built up area of 16,526 square metres and involving the fitting of sophisticated equipment for the life science laboratories, the construction time was extended much beyond the deadline.
The new structure will have more spacious laboratories and more space for the students to conduct research, varsity officials said.
It will also include an auditorium where seminars will be held. The new science block comprises of two structures -a ground-plus-three building which will house the chemistry department, and a ground-plus-two structure where the other departments of life sciences, such as biotechnology, microbiology, marine sciences, zoology and botany will be shifted.
Officials said new and more advanced equipment for the new building is in the offing as well.