Pune: The District Planning Committee (DPC) has sanctioned ₹9.80 crore for the construction of a hostel at Jyoti Savitri International School in Khanawadi.

The school, which is aimed at providing residential education to underprivileged girls, has faced delays due to funding challenges for its hostel facilities. With this new approval, the school is expected to open its doors for admissions starting from the academic year 2025.

The initiative to establish Jyoti Savitri International School, the first girls’ residential school in the district, was spearheaded by former Zilla Parishad CEO Ayush Prasad, with the aim of offering quality education to girls from economically weaker sections.

The project received initial support from a private company under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which funded the construction of the school building.

The state government allocated approximately 12 acres of land in Khanawadi for the project, and Fiat Company invested ₹19 crore to build the school's infrastructure, which will host classes from 5th to 12th grade.

Although the Zilla Parishad had intended to start the school in the current academic year, delays in construction and other pending works postponed the opening.

Now, with the DPC’s financial backing for the hostel, the school is expected to begin admissions by 2025. The school building is nearing completion, with finishing touches such as painting and furniture installation in progress. However, the construction of the hostel—crucial for accommodating the students—was pending due to a lack of funds.

The Zilla Parishad had been seeking additional funds through CSR initiatives for three hostel buildings, which will have a combined capacity of 888 girls. Despite these efforts, progress was slow.

In response to this, Zilla Parishad officials approached Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, who approved the request for funding. With ₹9.80 crore now secured through the District Planning Committee, the hostel's construction is expected to be completed by June 2025.

Further, the Zilla Parishad has confirmed that preparations for obtaining necessary approvals from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other regulatory bodies are underway.