Candidates collect OJEE information brochures, along with the forms, at the PMG counter in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 12: The online and offline sale of the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE)-2012 forms has begun from Friday.

The information brochure this time contains the details of the fee structure of all colleges under the OJEE as fixed by the fee regulation committee of the state government.

The decision to include this aspect was taken following a large number of complaints from students and their parents regarding arbitrary fee hike by various colleges in contravention of the directions of the committee, said OJEE vice-chairman, Sitaram Mohapatra.

“A detailed list of colleges and their fee structure have accordingly been given in the information brochure this time. In case of any violation of the fee regulation committee guidelines, the candidates can report the matter to the policy planning board. The erring colleges will be penalised,” said Mohapatra. Besides, the list would also help students to decide their affordability, he said. These details are also available on the OJEE website, www.odishajee.com.

The authorities have also set up an enquiry counter and helpline number (0674-2352456) to guide students in filling the forms and other issues related to the entrance exam, scheduled for May 6.

The helpline number would operate from 10am to 8pm on all working days and aspirants can also mail their queries to contactojee2012@gmail.com. The sale of the OJEE forms would continue till March 15.

One can download the form from the OJEE website or purchase offline forms from nationalised banks in the state and the JEE Cell at Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar.

The forms are also being sold at Calcutta, Ranchi, Raipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Bangalore to attract more number of outstation candidates. Last year, as many as 85,000 forms were sold, including 7,000 online.

“We expect the figures to reach the one-lakh mark as the sale of forms has started quite early this year,” Mohapatra said. On the other hand, the state government has decided to continue with e -counselling for admissions.

Clarifying on the clash of dates this time for the OJEE and the much sought-after Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Mohapatra said: “Selecting one date for the OJEE, while considering all other tests is difficult. There are only four Sundays in May and each date we pick would coincide with some entrance test or the other. However, our date does not coincide with some of the other major national-level tests such as the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), All India Pre Medical Entrance Test (AIPMT) and IIT-JEE.”