Engineering college managements have called for a shutdown of their institutions from February 15, if the state government fails to release Rs 4,000 crore towards the fee reimbursement scheme.

According to Engineering Colleges Managements' Association, over 500 engineering colleges will not function from mid-February, if they do not get the fee arrears.

Speaking to media persons in the city, a management representative and office bearer of the association, K V K Rao, said that the colleges cannot function without money. The association, however, assured that they would not force the students to pay up the fee.