His Excellency Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, Hon'ble Governor, Punjab and Haryana and Hon'ble Administrator, UT, Chandigarh inaugurated PEC University of Technology's newly built Academic Block at the university campus here today in the esteemed presence of Smt. Kirron Kher, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Chandigarh. Prof. Arun Gorver, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab University, Sh. Sarvjit Singh, IAS, Finance Secretary, UT Chandigarh, Sh. K K Jindal, IAS, Secretary, Technical Education, UT Chandigarh and Capt. Karnail Singh, PCS, Joint Secretary and Director Technical Education, UT Chandigarh, Area Councillor from Ward-12 Sh. Saurabh Joshi and Chandigarh State BJP President Sh. Sanjay Tandon were also present on the occasion.
His Excellency Prof. Solanki was welcomed to the campus by PEC Director Dr. Manoj K Arora following which he laid the foundation stone of Kalpana Chawla Girls Hostel at the campus. The 37-room hostel (with 2 rooms for the physically challenged) will see an extension of its kitchen, dining hall and the common sitting area at a cost of Rs. 1.83 crores. Following this, the UT Administrator unveiled the plaque at PEC Community Centre. The expansion of the Community Centre will take its area to 21000 sq ft. from 3500 sq. ft. currently, and enable multifunctional usages like banqueting, meeting hall, conferencing, guest rooms, etc. Sh. Solanki also unveiled the plaque at the Guest House, where 2 rooms are being added and the kitchen area is being expanded at a cost of Rs. 52.18 lacs. The Administrator also laid the foundation stone of the Mango Grooves, a place visualized as an outdoor food court with multiple layers of mango grooves providing a lot of shadow area.
Following this, the dignitaries proceeded for the inauguration of PEC's new academic block, a state-of-the art building built at a cost of Rs. 15 crores. At a glittering ceremony, the Director welcomed the dignitaries to the 95-year old institute, recalling it as the place where the first session of the Punjab Assembly was held. The Director highlighted the infrastructural upgradation at the campus as the right step for PEC to attain the status of an IIT. Secretary, Technical Education, Sh. K K Jindal congratulated PEC on its illustrious alumni base and encouraged more institute-industry interaction to help PEC improve its already stellar rankings. Smt. Kirron Kher also reiterated her full support in helping PEC get the coveted IIT tag. Governor Prof. Solanki said that the current era was the era of technology, and said that the only way for an institute to become a Centre of Excellence was to not just receive technical education, but to also give back to the nation. PEC is already recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the Ministry of human resources and Development under the 12th five-year plan.
PEC Deputy Director Prof. Sanjeev Sofat delivered the vote of thanks.