Ravenshaw Junior College in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, June 19: Ravenshaw Junior College is set to get a new address.

Ravenshaw University authorities have decided to provide land to facilitate relocation of the junior college from its main campus at College Square here. They are now trying to complete all formalities for the purpose.

“The executive council of the university has decided to provide two acres behind the varsity’s new postgraduate hostel at Malgodown for the construction of the junior college,” said Ravenshaw vice-chancellor B.C. Tripathy.

There are also a few staff quarters of the university that need to be shifted to the varsity campus.

“There are certain complications that need to be addressed to facilitate relocation of the junior college from the main university campus. We will shortly submit the proposals to the state government for approval,” Tripathy said.

The state government had considered moving the junior college to another location in the city after Ravenshaw became a unitary university in 2006. The shifting was imperative to fulfil a University Grants Commission guideline, which states that no other educational institution will be allowed to run on the campus of a unitary university.

Initially, it was proposed that the junior college would be relocated to Jobra, which is around 2km away from the main campus. However, it did not materialise because of hurdles in land acquisition.

“The previous relocation plan did not work out because of encroachment problems at Jobra. However, we have been informed about the latest proposals. We do not have any problem in relocating the campus if adequate security measures are provided,” said Ravenshaw junior college principal Rita Das.

At present, the junior college students have to attend their classes in various departments of the varsity. They also use the laboratories and other facilities of the university. As a result, there is an extra burden on the existing infrastructure of the university. The present student strength of the junior college stands at 2,400. Varsity officials said that students of the junior college were occupying most of the classrooms of the varsity between 7am and 12pm.

“Apart from this, Plus Two science students also use the laboratories till 1pm on all working days, creating problems for various undergraduate and postgraduate students,” said another varsity official.