Sambalpur, Sept. 24: Work for the proposed second campus of Gangadhar Meher University at Basantpur has moved a step ahead as the fisheries department has parted with its land for the project.

Some 50.5 acres have been earmarked for the second campus. Of this, 49.25 acres belonged to the fisheries department, while the revenue department owns some 1.25 acres. A senior government official said the fisheries department had earlier this week handed over its land for construction of the second campus. The revenue department has also agreed to part with their land.

The varsity's deputy registrar U.C. Pati said: "We have already requested the revenue department for issue of patta (record of rights) of the land in the name of the university. But, the process will take some time. However, they will give possession of the land to the institute shortly. The possession will help the university get fund of Rs 55 crore from the Rashtriya Uchchatara Sikhsya Abhiyan (Rusa) for construction of the second campus."

"The campus's design will be prepared after the Rusa funds are released," Pati said.

The land, which has been identified for construction of the campus, is near the proposed permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sambalpur.

The varsity students have expressed happiness over the new development.

"The institution has already been upgraded to a university. We hope that it will now start offering several new courses. As the existing campus does not have sufficient space, a second campus is essential for the varsity to spread its wings," said MBA student Ipsita Pattnaik.

The Gangadhar Meher College was established in 1944 and got upgraded to a university on May 30 last year. The existing campus is spread over 38 acres in the heart of the city.

The university offers 18 undergraduate, 16 postgraduate, seven MPhil and three pre-doctoral courses, besides several self-financing and vocational courses. At present, the varsity's student strength is around 5,300.