Officials of the Gwalior Municipal Corporation (GMC) said the stop-work order was issued after it emerged that neither building permissions nor a no-objection certificate (NOC) had been obtained before construction began. The decision has raised concerns within the university administration, as delays could jeopardise the utilisation of central funds and potentially force the institution to return the sanctioned amount.
The most prominent project affected is a girls’ hostel estimated to cost around ₹30 crore. The foundation stone for the building was laid last year by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. Construction is being executed by the Madhya Pradesh Building Development Corporation as part of efforts to strengthen the university’s infrastructure and improve residential facilities for female students.
According to municipal officials, construction activity had been underway for several months when the issue came to light. A GMC inspection team visited the site recently and found that work had commenced in violation of building regulations. Following the inspection, the corporation directed that all construction be halted with immediate effect.
University officials initially maintained that civic permissions were not required for projects undertaken within the campus, claiming that higher education institutions enjoy exemptions from municipal regulations. The civic body, however, has rejected this assertion.
GMC Commissioner Sanghpriya said there is no provision in existing laws that grants blanket exemption to universities from seeking building approvals. “Rules are the same for all departments and institutions. Even when the municipal corporation undertakes construction under central schemes like the PM Awas Yojana, permissions are taken as per norms. No institution can bypass the law,” he said.
The standoff has created uncertainty around other development works proposed under the PM-USHA scheme at Jiwaji University. Officials privately acknowledge that prolonged delays could affect project timelines and compliance with central funding conditions.
Municipal authorities have indicated that construction can resume once the university completes the approval process and submits the required documents. Meanwhile, university officials are expected to engage with the civic body to resolve the issue and prevent further disruption.
The episode has highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance even in centrally funded projects and has sparked discussion within academic circles about coordination between educational institutions and urban local bodies.
