In fact, the university has two proposals for the facility at hands. It was already considering a proposal to have an Internet node for its Computer Applications department, when the Sardar Vallbhbhai Regional College (SVR) of Engineering sent feelers for a more cost-effective one.

The University Grants Commission had agreed to give a grant of Rs 40 lakh to get the facility. But more than that amount it is the annual rentals of Rs 7.5 lakh that had the university nearly developing cold feet.

The university -- where except for a few direct lines, no telephones work -- is finding it hard to raise Rs 10 lakh for getting its EPABX system in order and very well knows that the annual rentals will stretch its resources further.

Going by its own track record and problems related to the state government grants, the university is not in a position to promise that it will be able to pay the rent on time, and that too every year.

It was then that the regional engineering college -- located in the SGU campus -- came up with an idea to extend a line from its own node to the university. This proposal by SVR to share the cost was the second one which the SGU was considering.

At present, Internet users of SVR engineering college have to spend not less than 30 minutes to send or receive replies. The college had got the connection, with limited facilities though, from National Centre for Software Development (NCSD) in 1995.

Following complaints by users about the delay, the college authorities initiated talks with a Mumbai-based company for upgrading the system. The college was directed to have a new VSAT to facilitate speedy transmission of data.

But the college had a second thought when it learnt of the annual rentals. With an idea was to share the annual rentals, the company suggested to the college that it was possible to extend a few lines to other users located in the vicinity of three to five kms.

All it will take is laying of lease lines between the engineering college and the university and a couple of such lines costing Rs 10,000, will help the university students have access to limited facility. The university's share in the rentals will also be only Rs 1.5 lakh, a far cry from Rs 7.5 lakh it will have to shell out for a full-fledged connection.

Not only did SGU Vice-Chancellor Ashwin Kapadia but also the Sarvajanik College of Engineering and Technology, the other engineering college run by Sarvajanik Education Society in Surat, has showed interest in the proposal.On getting a green signal from the NCSD, SVR Principal J C Vyas will send a formal proposal to the university. The proposal will first go the Finance committee, whose report will be submitted to the Syndicate.

The university will have to seek the sanction in three months. At a fraction of cost, the second proposal will enable the students to keep in touch with their counterparts in other universities the world over and also help sharing datas between various universities.