Hyderabad: The engineering college fee hike row in Telangana escalated after the Telangana Admissions and Fee Regulatory Committee (TAFRC) cleared revised tuition structures for the 2025-28 block period.
TAFRC permitted 63 private engineering colleges to increase fees. At the same time, it retained existing fees in 70 colleges and reduced tuition charges in nearly 20 institutions.
College managements expressed dissatisfaction with the panel’s decisions. Several institutions are reportedly preparing to approach the High Court against the revised structure.
Student organisations also staged protests, alleging lack of transparency in the engineering college fee hike process. They claimed authorities approved hikes in some institutions without proper inspections.
Engineering college fee hike sparks legal and political debate
The committee reduced fees in around 20 colleges compared to previous slabs. Reports indicate cuts ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 in certain institutions.
Meanwhile, 36 colleges received hikes of up to Rs 10,000. Another 18 colleges saw increases between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000, while nine institutions recorded hikes between Rs 20,000 and Rs 35,000.
In total, TAFRC finalised fee structures for 152 colleges and submitted the list to the State government months ago. Once the government issues a formal GO, the new structure will take effect from the current academic year and remain valid until 2028.
College representatives argued that fee reimbursement dues have piled up significantly. They stated that rising faculty salaries and maintenance costs make fee reductions unviable.
However, students and parents welcomed the decision to retain or reduce fees in several colleges. They said the outcome offers relief, especially to economically weaker sections seeking engineering education.