IIT-Patna cannot provide accommodation during Thursday's convocation.

Sources in the institute, which will also celebrate its seventh foundation day, said some hotels and guesthouses have been requested to offer their rooms to former IIT-Patna students, who seek accommodation for attending the third convocation, at a cheaper rate.

The institute has asked students and their guests to arrange accommodation facilities on their own as it is not able to provide accommodation in the IIT-Patna hostels because of ongoing transfer of the campus from the old one to the new one in Bihta.

The convocation would also be held in Bihta, some 40km away from the present campus at Patliputra.

The sources said till last year IIT-Patna was providing accommodation to limited guests at its guesthouse in Patliputra Colony but as the institute is going through the shifting process it is not able to provide accommodation to all students and their guests.

An IIT-Patna officer, on condition of anonymity, said: "The IIT-Patna guesthouse is at Sridev Apartment, Patliputra Colony, but as it is shifting to Bihta, some rooms of the guesthouse are occupied for shifting-related work."

A notice regarding this has been put up on the IIT-Patna website also. An IIT-Patna alumnus working in an IT company in Hyderabad, on condition of anonymity, said: "It is good that prior information regarding arranging accommodation facilities to the students has been given."

However, the accommodation charges would be borne by the students.

Apart from these, the IIT-Patna has also issued some directives for those attending the convocation at its new and permanent campus at Bihta for the first time.

Students have been asked to attend the convocation rehearsal on Wednesday (August 5) from 3pm to 5pm at the Bihta campus. Those missing it would not be allowed to receive the degree next day on August 6. As the institute is going to hold its convocation at Bihta for first time, has also arranged some transportation facilities for students. Transportation will be provided to all degree recipients from the main building, IIT-Patna, to the Bihta campus on August 5 at 1pm.

Similarly, there will also be transportation facilities on the convocation day in the morning.

Students attending the convocation will have to register on August 5 itself also on the same day and have to collect all necessary items, including gowns, invitation cards and security pass. There will also be dress code for students attending the function - light colour full-sleeve shirt and dark colour trouser for boys while plain sari or salwar, kurta with scarf and ladies shoes for girls.

This year, the chief guest of the convocation will be Boeing India president Pratyush Kumar.