Bhubaneswar: The second campus for Utkal University will start functioning temporarily for the 2018-19 academic year from the BB College at Chandikhole.

The state government has identified 66.3 acres in Siha panchayat of Jajpur district, 12km from Chandikhole for the campus also known as a rural campus of the varsity.

In 2015, the state government had announced setting up of a rural campus of the varsity. In July last year, higher education minister Ananta Das had laid its foundation stone.

According to sources, work on the temporary campus will be completed in next two months. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will be requested to inaugurate it before the commencement of the session. The state government has allocated Rs 24 crore for the second campus, out of which, more than Rs 10 crore has been provided for the construction of infrastructure. In initial phase, the academic block, administrative building and hostels for the students will be built, he said.

The state government had earlier announced to sanction Rs 70 crore to set up infrastructure of the rural campus, but the university authorities decided to approach the government again with a revised estimate for funds.

The rural campus will focus on the students' skill development. Modern tools and techniques will be used to increase employability of the youths. "The proposed campus will cater to skill development needs of the youths and manpower requirement of the industries," said VC Soumendra Mohan Patnaik.

Vocational courses to be offered here on rural development and other subjects.