AURANGABAD: A school of planning and architecture was proposed in the district in the state annual budget three years ago. It does not seem, however, like it will come up anytime soon. There are three such schools in the country, at New Delhi, Bhopal and Vijaywada. 

State education minister Vinod Tawde, responding to a query on the status of the SPA at Aurangabad, had nothing concrete to offer. A question was raised by local NCP MLC Satish Chavan in the legislature. Tawde said reminders had been sent to the Centre, which is “in the process” of setting up the SPAs. The written answer, a copy of which is with TOI, shows Tawde referred to an announcement in the Union budget for the current year, which promises two new full-fledged SPAs and 18 others similar institutions as part of IITs/NITs/Central Universities. 

An announcement of SPA at Aurangabad was done in the state annual budget three years back, with provision of funds of Rs 10 crore. The institution was to be one of “international eminence”. 

Opposition leaders were quick to point out that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had been repeatedly assuring the people that the premier institution would come up at Aurangabad.

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