The Patna University administration is racing against time to finish preparations to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the main function of its centenary year celebrations that is to be held on October 14.

The main function will be held at Patna Science College. Bapu Sabhaghar, the newly constructed auditorium at Gyan Bhavan, was also considered as an option.

Patna district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Agarwal has issued directives to the university administration to prevent any untoward incident on the varsity campus, particularly in its hostels.

The DM said: 'The minute-to-minute detailed itinerary of the PM's visit has not been decided. But the main function will be held at Patna Science College.'

He added that the detailed itinerary will be decided after the National Security Guard (NSG) team visits the campus to assess the security arrangements ahead of the Prime Minister's visit.

Patna University dean students' welfare N.K. Jha said: 'The university administration preferred that the main function was held at Patna Science College. The final selection of venue was to be made only with consent of the Prime Minister's Office.'

Jha added the state government had received a letter from the Prime Minister's Office and Patna Science College had been decided as the final venue. But Bapu Sabhaghar, the newly constructed auditorium at Gyan Bhavan, was also considered as an option

Sources said the university administration, from the day when the Prime Minister's Office gave its consent about the PM's participation in the centenary year celebrations, had wanted the function to be held at Patna Science College.

Patna University is the oldest university in Bihar. Likewise, Patna Science College is the oldest college in Bihar. It was established in 1927 as the science department of Patna University.

It began functioning independently from 1928, when Lord Irwin laid its foundation stone on November 15.

Since then, the college has been recognised as a premier institution of higher learning for science in Bihar.

The college, spread across 28.32 acres, has separate blocks for different departments and is still considered the best science institution in Bihar.

The science college is also the alma mater of chief minister Nitish Kumar, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha.

S.K. Srivastava, the principal of Patna Science College, said: 'It is a proud moment for us that the Patna University centenary year main function will be held at our institution.

'The college has a long list of reputable alumni. The college still is considered the best institution for science education despite shortage of teachers and staff.'