Chandigarh: Panjab University with its headquarters in Chandigarh - the foothills of the Shivaliks - believes it can sustain a long distance relationship. It is for this reason that it is looking forward to giving affiliation to a college more than 2,600km away in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Multi-Disciplinary College, Port Blair, has sought temporary affiliation from the university for three courses - undergraduate courses in architecture planning and fine arts and a post-graduate course in management for the 2016-17 session.

"Before the Pondicherry University came up, some of the colleges had affiliation with Panjab University. So, I think they want to reconnect with us," said Panjab University vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover.There is of course one common thread - both Chandigarh and the islands nestled between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea are Union Territories.

"Besides the old association, we thought that what we wanted for our three courses was available with Panjab University," said Raajiv Yaduvanshi, principal secretary, education, Andaman and Nicobar administration. The college authorities have deposited the Rs 2.10-lakh affiliation fee and a team from PU visited the college on May 13 to make inspections. The case was discussed in the PU syndicate meeting on May 15. After discussions ,it was decided that if the Centre allows affiliation, the university will go for it.

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