Punjab Govt Grants Rs 40 Crore to PAU for Infrastructure Development

The Punjab government has allocated a capital grant of Rs 40 crore to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, for the second consecutive year in the 2025-26 budget. This significant funding is aimed at enhancing infrastructure development, strengthening the university’s Research, Teaching, and Extension (RTE) programs, and advancing agricultural innovation in the state.

Expressing gratitude, PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal lauded the government’s continued support and thanked Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann and Finance Minister Sardar Harpal Singh Cheema for prioritizing the institution’s infrastructural needs.

Dr. Gosal emphasized that PAU, with its legacy of over six decades in agricultural excellence, will utilize the funds to modernize its facilities and enhance the academic environment for students, faculty, and stakeholders.

The funds will be directed towards multiple infrastructure projects, including the expansion of roads, the installation of tubewell water and sewerage lines, and the construction of new hostels, classrooms, laboratories, and washrooms. Additionally, the grant will facilitate the refurbishment of residential complexes, guest houses, the university hospital, auditoria, and office spaces. Key improvements in electrical systems, elevators, and CCTV surveillance are also part of the plan to enhance campus security and efficiency.

The infrastructure of the newly established School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture (S-DISA) will be fortified with cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Geospatial Intelligence and Spectroscopy to modernize agricultural education. The Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Agriculture will also receive infrastructural enhancements, focusing on resource-efficient farming practices.

Further, specialized facilities such as the High Throughput Genomics and Phenomics Facility, PAU Gene Bank, Aquifer Monitoring and Water Management Facility, Bio and Renewable Energy Centre and Climate Smart Cropping System Centre, Market Intelligence Cell, Agri-Business Incubation Hub will benefit from the grant.

Additionally, the grant will also be channeled into invigorating the educational ecosystem by upgrading classrooms and laboratory facilities, equipping them with state-of-the-art tools to enhance experiential learning. These developments will significantly enrich the academic experience, nurture skilled professionals and greatly augment the university’s capacity to address contemporary agricultural challenges, driving a transformative shift towards sustainable agriculture.