Patna, Jan. 7: The Bihar government today claimed the Centre has agreed to its proposal to set up the IIM at Bodhgaya though no word was forthcoming from the Union HRD ministry.

The Centre has been insistent that the premier B-school is set up in Patna.

State education minister Brishen Patel told reporters here today that he met Union HRD minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi on Tuesday and pleaded for Bodhgaya as the location for the proposed IIM.

'The HRD minister agreed to our request and assured us the IIM would come up in Bodhgaya. She also confirmed IIM Indore would mentor the institute here and directed the ministry to act without any delay. This is good news for the state,' Patel said.

However, no one in the Union HRD ministry or Irani's office could confirm Patel's claim. One official in the Union HRD ministry said on condition of anonymity: 'As far as we are concerned, Patna remains the site.'

State education department officials said they were ready for the project in Bodhgaya. 'Construction work will take almost two years and will cost around Rs 800 crore. There are some Magadh University buildings where classes can take place until the IIM has its own building,' said R.K. Mahajan, principal secretary, education.