Temporary campus seems to be a permanent solution to the ongoing duel between the Centre and state government over setting up the proposed IIM.

On Monday, education minister Brishen Patel said given the Centre’s “rigid” stand, the IIM can be started at a makeshift campus in the city and shifted later to a suitable place.

In the past 10 years, several national-level institutes, including IIT and AIIMS, have come up in the state with campuses in and around Patna. However, most of them had to start from a temporary campus till they found land. In fact, neither the IIT nor the NIT is yet to begin classes from a permanent campus.

“As we have said earlier, the state government decided and finalised the IIM in Gaya at the vacant plot of Magadh University. A section of university officials were not happy with the government’s decision though. However, we were in constant talks with them and their stand had also softened last week. However, now with the Centre’s stand getting rigid, we are thinking about options,” Patel said.

The minister came up with an amicable solution to the problem.

“A proposal will be sent to the Centre this week under which we can start with a temporary campus of the IIM in Patna. A proper building can be rented out or leased in the state capital and the state government will search for land in and around the city once we get the nod. In reality, Patna and its outskirts have hardly any land left. The proposal will say that the temporary campus will continue functioning in Patna and if at all the state government does not get land in Patna, we should be allowed to set up the permanent campus of IIM in Gaya as we had decided. The state government will mention that it will try its best to get land for the IIM’s permanent campus in Patna,” Patel told The Telegraph on Monday.

On Saturday, senior officials of Magadh University said the state government could take vacant land as the institute is after all a government property.

Asked whether students can seek admission to IIM-Bihar based on CAT-2014 score, R.K. Mahajan, principal secretary, education department, said it was the Union government’s decision but the state was ready to provide infrastructure in Bodhgaya campus of Magadh University.

However, an education department official said: “This seems to be the start of problems between the state government and the Centre. The state government now will have to convince the Centre towards opening of a temporary campus of the IIM in Patna. It might very well be that the Centre agrees to the same but the issue of permanent campus may get the state and the Centre at loggerheads.”

In Gaya on Monday, the IIM Construction Struggling Committee launched an agitation in support of their demand that the IIM should be set up there. As part of the agitation, a signature campaign was started in front of Gaya College where more than 400 people had signed.

Its convener Vijay Kumar Mithu said: “We also have plans to include members of IMA Gaya branch, Central Bihar Chamber of Commerce, Bar Association and other people from a cross-section of the society to garner support.”