Uncertainty over the fate of CEPT University's Bachelor of Planning programme hangs over 160 students who had enrolled for the course that is awaiting recognition from Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI). These students are fervently hoping that the BPlan course gets the ITPI's stamp of approval failing which none of them would be eligible for a government job, sources said. A three-member team, consisting of Professor Mayank Mathur, Dr Sanyukta Bhaduri and ITPI (Gujarat) Chairman NK Patel, visited the university on the weekend to inspect the course and is expected to submit a report within a week. The committee examined the syllabus and other aspects of the course.

They also met the students, faculty members and top management at CEPT, including varsity President Bimal Patel to get an understanding of the course. ITPI sources said that the varsity had applied for ITPI approval about four months ago and as per the protocol a committee was sent to review the course curriculum and if the varsity can be given ITPI approval or not.

After the report is submitted, the ITPI will decide whether the course is eligible for certification which has been pending since the inception of the course. NK Patel, who is also a former townplanner and prominent builder, said, "We have reviewed the works of students who have enrolled in the BPlan programme. Meanwhile we also visited the library and remote sensing laboratory on the campus and met with the faculty members. On Saturday the committee met the top management including CEPT president to get further details of the course."

While praising the good infrastructure at CEPT, Patel pointed out that the library at the university is small when compared to the number of students using it. He also took note of the "space crunch" on the campus. Last year, the varsity had discontinued the BPlan programme for a year. According to sources, that decision was taken in order to reconsider the course structure and also to set up proper infrastructure to deliver quality education.