An artist’s impression of the Raman Science Block of BJB (Junior) College. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 8: BJB (Junior) College is set to have an exclusive campus with the process of bifurcation from BJB (Autonomous) College already underway. The move was initiated ahead of the state government’s decision to separate Plus Two classes from degree colleges.

The existing arts block of the college has been demarcated for the junior college while retaining the main (administrative) block for BJB (Autonomous) College. A seven-storey building would be constructed on the arts block premises, which would be called Raman Science Block of BJB (Junior) College. This new science block, to be built at a cost of Rs 6 crore, would be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and modern laboratories.

“We had submitted our requirements for the new building to the chief architect through the roads and buildings (R&D) department and, accordingly, he gave us a seven-storey model. For this purpose, the government sanctioned Rs 1 crore last year,” Mohanty said.

In April, the principals of BJB (Junior) College and BJB (Autonomous) College met the chief secretary, chief engineer and secretary of higher education department.

In the meeting, it was decided that the government would grant an additional sum of Rs 5 crore for construction purposes.

“I have been told by the R&B officials that the money would be sanctioned soon. The government plans to complete construction of three floors within one year. Hopefully, the entire building would come up within three years. Each floor would have an area of 20,000 square feet,” the junior college principal said, adding the existing classrooms in the arts block would be renovated while the departments would be shifted to the main campus.

In January, the state government took the decision to separate junior colleges from degree colleges and include them under the school and mass education (SME) department. Earlier, the higher education department was in charge of Plus Two. This rule is likely to come into force from the next academic session.

“There are plans to form a separate directorate called directorate of higher secondary education to govern junior colleges. But as of now, it has been decided that the administrative affairs would be under the control of SME department from next year,” said Mohanty.

According to the proposed bifurcation, the ratio of students to teachers in junior colleges has been fixed at 40:1 and fresh recruitments would be made, he said.

Moreover, in the event of bifurcation, the existing 110-seater ladies’ hostel would be reserved for students of BJB (Junior) College. The girl students of BJB (Autonomous) would be accommodated in a four-storey hostel being constructed on the main campus.

Similarly, the existing boys’ hostel would be taken over by the autonomous unit while a new one is proposed to come up on the junior college campus.