Bhubaneswar, June 18: Authorities of Ekamra College here are in a quandary after one of its four blocks was declared unsafe by the roads and building division of the works department.

The college, which has received orders not to hold classes at the “unsafe” block, has sought the intervention of the higher education department as the 2013-14 academic session is inching close.

The authorities are struggling with the academic schedule even to hold regular classes for various batches because of the absence of proper infrastructure.

The college has a total of 10 classrooms besides small laboratories and tutorial rooms.

The “unsafe” block houses six classrooms and had been renovated to a certain extent in 2008.

“The new session is going to begin in about a month and the student strength will increase. We have approached the higher education officials to allow us to set up a new block on our campus. Without block-A, it is really going to be difficult,” said Ekamra principal Chittaranjan Panda.

The 35-year-old college, which is spread over 10 acres in Bhimtangi, has about 2,000 students.

Panda said the college was contemplating cutting down the number of classes because of problems in classroom availability.

The governing body of the college had earlier approached the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) for renovation work at block-A for Rs 15 lakh. However, after the extent of damage was assessed, Idco authorities suggested that the structure be demolished entirely and constructed again.

The estimated cost has been pegged at Rs 1 crore.

This matter has been communicated to higher education officials, who are now considering providing grants for taking up construction of the dilapidated block.