Berhampur, July 21: The Khallikote Junior College in front of the Khallikote Cluster University building on Town Hall Road will be shifted to the Binayak Acharya High School campus on Aska Road here.

This decision was taken during a meeting at the office of the varsity registrar, Radhanath Rath. Berhampur MLA Ramesh Chandra Chau Patnaik, Khallikote Junior College principal Bibekananda Panda, and the development authority chairman, Subash Maharana, attended the meet.

Earlier, the college was to be shifted to the city outskirts. But, local residents, including students, opposed the plan.

The state government had earlier asked the local tehsildar to identify 5 to 10 acres of land in the vicinity of the city for the junior college. But, the official had said that there was no suitable land on the outskirts. Besides, Patnaik had also advised the college authority to opt for a 20-acre patch of land behind the Karuna irrigation inspection bungalow at Jagannathpur on the city fringes. The students also opposed this.

Sources said the college's present campus had been built in 1896 and required much renovation.

Only three classrooms in the college are in working condition where the students can be accommodated for teaching. Most of the classes of the junior college are being conducted in the varsity.

"Our classes remain cancelled when the varsity exams take place and we fall short of classrooms," a college student said.

The number of students in science, arts and commerce streams in the college is 2,144. The government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the construction of the new building.

Ganjam collector Prem Chandra Chowdhury directed the district education officer to inspect the high school campus and submit a report.