The Hindu : New Delhi News : SRCC campus set to become earthquake-resistant

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Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008
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New Delhi

SRCC campus set to become earthquake-resistant

Parul Sharma

Retro-fitting is being done in the main building that is designated as a heritage structure
Delhi Government has identified a few colleges on the DU campus as heritage buildings

NEW DELHI: Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce will soon become the first earthquake-resistant building on the campus.

As part of a grant given to the institution by the Delhi Government to fund the heritage restoration of the main building of SRCC, including all the 25 classrooms, the Principal’s room and the administration section are now in the process of being made earthquake-resistant by the process of retro-fitting.

Retro-fitting is being done in the main building -- designated as a heritage structure -- to strengthen it. Retro-fitting is the addition of new technology or features to older systems to make them earthquake-resistant.

Some years ago the Delhi Government had identified a few colleges on the Delhi University campus as heritage buildings and provided them with a fund for carrying out heritage restoration.

So far SRCC has received Rs.50 lakh of the Rs.1-crore grant earmarked for restoration.

“It is a tedious process to carry out retro-fitting in a heritage building. It has to be done in such a way that the building does not lose its heritage character. As of now, four big rooms have been completed. Work on 16 other rooms is going on. By November, all the 25 classrooms and the entire building in the foreground will be retro-fitted. Since we do not want to disturb academic activity, it will take us a little longer to finish work,” says Amit Bose, the architect under whose supervision the whole work is being carried out.

Principal P. C. Jain informed that apart from retro-fitting of the building and heritage restoration process, the classrooms are also being renovated and modernised and the facilities are being upgraded to be at par with the international standards. “The renovation and modernisation work is being done simultaneously and Rs.6 lakh is being spent on every classroom. We have approached our alumni and they have raised the necessary amount. The classrooms will be equipped with air-conditioners, all the latest gadgets of educational aids, LCD projectors, white boards instead of black boards, and brand new furniture,” said Prof. Jain.

A training session for all the SRCC teachers will be conducted next month to familiarise them with the new equipment.

Some of the renowned former SRCC students who are contributing Rs.6 lakh each to their alma mater are BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Bharat Hotels Chairperson Jyotsna Suri, Max India co-founder and Chairman Analjit Singh, advocate Raian Karanjawala and media personality Rajat Sharma.

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