City's PGs Leave Much Room for Improvement

Most of these accommodations charge students a hefty amount but fail to ensure proper facilities or safety

- Rajanbir Singh & Priyanka Thakur

CHANDIGARH: Deepakshi, a Class-12 pass out, came to the city a year ago to prepare for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). After getting enrolled in a coaching centre in Sector 34, she found a paying guest (PG) accommodation nearby. Though she pays ₹13,000 a month for food and lodging—she is charged extra for AC and laundry—she ends up making a lot of adjustments. "Most of the PGs are cramped. I share mine with another student. The coaching centre and state library are within walking distance, so it is convenient for me to return at night after classes," she says.

Many like Deepakshi come to Chandigarh every year to pursue higher education or prepare for competitive exams. The city, which houses Panjab University, Punjab Engineering College and 12 other colleges under the UT department of higher education, is a major draw among students from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and other states for the quality of education it has to offer. Besides, the city has also turned into a hub for coaching centres preparing students for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), NEET, immigration exams such as IELTS and TOEFL etc.