As promised, the state government on Thursday handed over 60.04 acres near Jagannathpur temple in HEC area to IIM-Ranchi for a permanent campus at a simple function at Suchana Bhavan, the temporary address of the premier B-school.
While additional collector of Ranchi Anjani Kumar Mishra signed the deal on behalf of the state, IIM-R director Anindya Sen did the same for the institute. The land transfer was done in the presence of Nagri circle officer Baidyanath Kamti and faculty members of IIM-R.
The B-school, which started functioning as the eighth IIM of the country with 44 students in July 2010, today boasts 400 in various management and professional programmes. It never had a campus of its own, courtesy the Nagri and Cheri Manatu land fiascos.
The present plot has a few glitches too, including two unauthorised structures, a graveyard and an overhead high-tension wire of 33KV. But, IIM-R director Sen isn't worried.
"The administration has assured us that these problems will be resolved shortly. Besides, the location (12km from the heart of the capital) is ideal," Sen said, adding that they had already approached the central public works department for construction of a boundary wall.
Sen further said that the 90 acres allotted in Cheri Manatu was undulated and would have incurred extra costs for levelling while the 76 acres in Nagri were riddled with disputes. "Though smaller in size, the new plot is very suitable on those counts," he reasoned.
The new campus in HEC area, when it is ready tentatively three years from now, will boast a rainwater harvesting system, a water recycling unit and solar power facilities, the director maintained. Phase I of IIM-R development will comprise high-tech classrooms on a wi-fi campus, he added.
Although described as a historic event, no regular student was present to witness the land transfer. While the 2014-16 batch had just qualified, students of the 2016-17 batch are yet to join. And, regular students of the 2015-17 batch are away doing their summer internships.
