Gandhinagar: The education department of the state government has approved Rs. 17 crores for the second phase of the restoration of Ramba Graduate Teachers (RGT) College in Porbandar.

Maharana Natvarsinhji of Porbandar had donated the building, known as Dariya Mahel, to the government for educational use in memory of his mother Ram Ba. The building included a total of 83 acres of land. RGT College started functioning in the building in 1956. However, due to the building’s dilapidated state, government B.Ed and M.Ed college running in the building was shifted to another place. Various bodies of the city started campaigning to save RGT College, led by the Justice for RGT committee.

GCERT had allocated a grant of Rs. 7 crore 31 lakh to the office of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for the first phase of restoration, which started on January 26th, 2020. The first phase included the restoration of the building from inside. After the completion of the first phase, the front part and Darbar hall of the building were still in a dilapidated state. MLA Arjun Modhvadiya had demanded the approval of funds for the second phase of restoration to the educational secretary DK Rao. The educational department released a tender of Rs. 17 crore 34 lakh 90 thousand for the second phase of restoration.

The building was originally constructed in 1903 at a cost of around Rs. 1.18 lakh, without the use of cement concrete. DeshGujarat