Candidates at one of the OJEE nodal centres in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 9: Chaos and confusion marked the second phase of e-counselling for engineering courses under the Orissa Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE)-2011 which began today.

Around 15 students, who had turned up at the OJEE nodal centre at BJB (Junior) College, faced difficulties during the registration and choice locking process because of a slow internet connection.

“We reached here at 9am as per the reporting time. But the registration web page was not accessible for more than an hour due to a slow server. It is already 1pm and my sister is still waiting for her turn for the choice locking process. The counselling should have been conducted in a more organised way,” said Surya Narayan Rout, a guardian.

Parents also criticised the e-counselling process and alleged that the nodal centre did not have adequate facilities.

“Here they have just two computers for so many candidates. When authorities cannot provide proper facilities, they should not be charging Rs 450 as counselling fees. Moreover, the classes in all engineering colleges have started today and it will be difficult for other students who take admission during the second phase to catch up with the others,” said Shridhar Sahoo, a parent.

“Thousands of parents like me, who do not know how to operate a computer, are feeling helpless because of the web counselling system. It is complicated, confusing and allows scope for manipulation,” said Ranjan Mitra father of a candidate, who participated in the counselling process for the first time.

“My son appeared for the compartmental examination and so he could not take part in the first phase of e-counselling. But there are may others who missed out during the first time since they had not got their Plus Two documents on time. The entire higher education system needs to be revamped,” he added.

Dozens of candidates from other states, who reported at the College of Engineering and Technology (CET) here for choice locking, were also frustrated. “I had earlier appeared for the first e-counselling process, but was refused admission since I did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria of 45 per cent marks fixed for general category. Now I have produced a caste certificate seeking weightage, but authorities are not telling me whether I will get admission or not,” said Ajay Kumar Ravi, a candidate from Jharkhand.

A few authorities of local engineering colleges were also present here. They said after the first e-counselling was conducted, many students had either not reported at the allotted college or had failed to pay the initial fee amount and are now on the fence.

“Since OJEE authorities have not clarified their doubts properly, they have been approaching us to find out about their admission status. We do not know how things stand now and so, have come here to seek clarification from the nodal centre officers. Manual counselling used to be more transparent and convenient,” said Sudhir Kumar Panigrahi, a placement officer of Gandhi Engineering College. Further, admissions-in-charge of Techno School, Bhubaneswar, B.B. Nayak said the OJEE website (www.odishajee.com) did not update fresh information on time as a result of which students have not been able to make an informed choice.

The second e-counselling process is being conducted at 10 nodal centres across the state and will be completed by September 11. Colleges will be allotted to candidates on September 14 and part admission fee payment has to be done between September 15 and 17.

R.K. Singh, who has come from Bihar for his daughter's admission, said: “This is the fourth time that we have come to Orissa. The admission system here is not systematic and has been especially harassing for outstation students. The entire process must ideally be completed in one or two days so that we don’t have to face this kind of inconvenience.”