And if Vice-Chancellor Anil Kane is to be believed, the garden will soon be treated to a facelift and thrown open to the public three days a week. The money collected by way of entry fees will go to fund various development works for the university.

Describing his plans for a major programme titled `Know Your University', Kane told Express Newsline that trees -- including sandalwood, teak, neem and others -- would be marked with scientific and common names. Work on renovating the garden had already begun, he added. While admitting that the garden had been neglected for a long time, Kane said the authorities were determined to change its totally in the university's golden jubilee year. Apart from the university, he said, the garden would benefit the general public as well as the city had very few gardens with a variety of trees.

Kane said they also planned to open the Oriental Institute's library for the general public three days a week on the payment of a nominal fee. ``There are 27,000 manuscripts in the library and many would love to take a look at the collection'', the V-C said.