GUWAHATI: Amid questions over the proposed "VIP Dining Hall" at the Gauhati University Guest House, the University has issued a clarification stating that the project is intended to strengthen its common guest house infrastructure and is not meant to create an exclusive facility for VIPs.
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In a statement issued by the Office of the Registrar, the University said the Guest House hosts a wide range of visitors, including selection committee members, external examiners, viva voce experts, visiting faculty, resource persons, alumni, parents, students and delegates attending academic, administrative and cultural programmes. With academic and administrative activities expanding over the years, the existing dining hall has become inadequate, while the kitchen, store and staff accommodation are also in need of upgradation.
To address these requirements, the University's Construction Committee approved the construction of a new dining hall along with a new kitchen, store and staff accommodation.
The University also addressed the controversy surrounding the term "VIP Dining Hall" that appeared in one of the tender documents. It clarified that the phrase was inadvertently used during the preparation of the tender and was only an internal reference historically associated with visiting professors, experts and dignitaries staying at the Guest House. It stressed that the terminology did not represent the actual nature or objective of the project.
According to the University, the mistake was corrected in the Letter of Intent issued on June 24, 2026, where the work was officially described as the construction of a dining hall at the Gauhati University Guest House. It has also sought an explanation from the Superintending Engineer (in-charge) of the Engineering Department over the use of the incorrect terminology in the initial tender document.
Reiterating its stand, the University said the project is aimed solely at expanding and improving Guest House facilities to accommodate the growing number of academic visitors and should not be construed as the creation of a separate VIP dining facility.