Image Source: Times of India
Mounting complaints over crumbling infrastructure and poor hostel conditions at the Central Institute of Technology (CIT) campus in Taramani have drawn scrutiny, even as state authorities continue to invest in new skill-development infrastructure across the cluster of polytechnic institutions.
The issue gained wider attention after the recent triple murder of a migrant couple and their infant on the sprawling Old Mahabalipuram Road campus exposed broader safety concerns. However, accounts from students across four industrial training institutes, including Central Polytechnic College (CPC), one of the state’s top polytechnic institutions with nearly 100% placements, suggested that everyday campus life is marked by infrastructural neglect and welfare gaps.
Students Describe Dilapidated Academic Infrastructure
Students alleged that classrooms with cracked walls and damaged ceilings continue to be used, with some forced to sit on the floor due to a shortage of desks and chairs.
A CPC student was quoted saying in the Time of India report that they neither had benches nor desks in workshops and had to stand for long hours during practical sessions, leading to physical strain. Despite the government introducing new certification courses and roping in external agencies at significant cost to improve employability, students said their basic academic infrastructure remained neglected.
CPC Vice-Principal Gopu was reported as stating that students needed to adapt to demanding work conditions and that the Public Works Department had been informed to replace rough concrete flooring with smoother surfaces.
Hostel Conditions Raise Hygiene and Dignity Concerns
Hostel residents were reported as saying living conditions were significantly worse.
A student from the Institute of Printing Technology said food quality was consistently poor and that dead insects, including a frog in one instance, had been found in meals months earlier. Students also reported irregular drinking water supply and dry toilet taps.
Accounts also described students washing clothes in unsanitary, open spaces, raising concerns about hygiene and dignity.
New Infrastructure Underused, Old Buildings Still Occupied
Students alleged that newly opened buildings by the Directorate of Technical Education (DOTE) were not being fully utilised.
One IPT student said parents had been told during admissions that classes would be conducted in new facilities, but the buildings were later repurposed, including conversion into computer rooms, forcing students to continue studying in older structures.
Labs Lack Equipment, Machines Outdated
Students and staff flagged deficiencies in laboratory infrastructure.
A first-year CPC student said several computers were non-functional, electrical leaks affected machines, and basic chemistry lab tools such as pipettes, burettes, and burners were damaged or unusable.
A staff member stated that equipment did not meet industry standards, noting that CNC machines were more than a decade old and that technical staffing was inadequate. The absence of modern metal printing systems and supporting software was also highlighted.
Funding Constraints and Administrative Delays
Principals across institutes were reported as saying maintenance funding remained insufficient despite strong placement outcomes.
One principal said no dedicated annual maintenance grants were earmarked by DOTE and that upkeep expenses were largely met through student fees. Infrastructure proposals required DOTE clearance, with only ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh spent annually by each college on average.
While institute heads blamed the Public Works Department for inaction, PWD officials reportedly attributed delays to proposal rejections at the DOTE level. Sources added that focus had shifted to a ₹94-crore campus integration project, stalling renovation and new construction.
Higher Education Secretary P Shankar told Times of India that he was unaware of specific renovation allocations but stated that steps would be taken to address the issues.
High Cost Skill Projects Amid Basic Infrastructure Gaps
Officials were reported as stating that the government was constructing a ₹94-crore integrated learning centre for all institutions on the campus. In addition, a new Centre of Excellence was being established in collaboration with Tata at a cost of ₹45 crore to enhance student skill development.
However, students and observers said that while large investments were being made in advanced training ecosystems, foundational infrastructure including classrooms, hostels, sanitation, and food services remained in a state of neglect.
Some described the CPC college building as resembling an old, dilapidated structure from the 1960s, underscoring the contrast between placement success and campus living conditions.
Official Inspection and Response
DOTE Commissioner S. Visakan said he had recently inspected the campus and would initiate corrective measures covering buildings, hostels, and academic infrastructure.
He added that academic initiatives were being expanded through the introduction of German language courses and certification programmes in sectors such as footwear and food technology to improve industry readiness.
Call for State Intervention
Despite nearly 100% placement records across institutions, students said they continued to endure difficult academic and living environments.
They maintained that it was now incumbent upon the state government to address long-pending infrastructure, sanitation, and welfare issues and ensure that students received not just employability training but also a dignified learning environment.
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