VIJAYAWADA: The Krishna district administration has started modernising hostels under the Marpu Nadu-Nedu initiative.
A total of 138 hostels that include SC welfare, BC welfare and tribal welfare hostels will be modernised under the project.
Welfare hostels in the state are meant to provide quality accommodation to students of weaker sections and house 5,519 students.
Explaining the motive behind the project, district collector J Nivas told TOI, “Students spend around nine years of their lives in hostels. They are getting depressed and developing a hatred for hostels that are in dilapidated condition. To overcome this problem, we have decided to give a facelift to these buildings.”
Renovation work started at the welfare hostel in Penamaluru, which went on to become the model for the project.
“Why should hostel doors be same all the time. Toilets are unhygenic and kitchens are not equipped to cook quality food. We decided to give a standardised look to the hostels. All doors, including main gates, will be changed. Washrooms will be modernised and advanced toilet seats and bath fittings will be installed. Round-the-clock water supply will get top priority and high quality branded equipment will be used to ensure durability,” Nivas said.
Officials are also giving priority to replace old beds and arrange mosquito nets.
Officials have set a target for completing the works in a record 138 days. “One engineer each has been allocated for one hostel and we have prepared estimates with around 15 crore,” Nivas said.
