Mangalore University (MU) has submitted a proposal to the Karnataka government to collaborate with a private partner under a public-private partnership (PPP) model to complete the unfinished international student hostel on its campus in Mangaluru.

The decision comes as MU reportedly lacks the funds required to finish the hostel and has a limited number of international students on campus. The project — a 300-room hostel with attached bathrooms and kitchen facilities — was launched about a decade ago during the tenure of a former vice-chancellor. Although nearly ₹48 crore (US$5.2 million) has already been spent, the construction remains incomplete. As a result, the university has proposed handing over the project to a private entity under the PPP model. According to the vice-chancellor, MU cannot independently decide to transfer the hostel project to a third party, and a proposal has already been forwarded to the government for approval. The contractor’s pending bill of ₹15 crore (US$1.6 million) has not yet been settled. At present, only about 60–70% of the construction has been completed, and substantial funds are still needed to finish the project. The next steps will depend on the government’s decision. So far, MU has spent ₹48 crore on the project and still needs around ₹25 crore (US$2.7 million) to complete the remaining work. The vice-chancellor also mentioned plans to include a separate floor in the building for evaluation purposes.