Academic session at AIIMS Bhubaneswar begins

"Of the students strength of 50, about 48 have joined today. AIIMS Bhubaneswar is no more a dream for the people of Odisha. It is a reality today," said institute's director Asok Mohapatra.

While 18 students hail from the state, 16 have joined from other different parts of the country, Mohapatra said, adding that there are 12 girls in the first batch.

Out of the 24 sanctioned faculty members, 20 have already joined the institute, he said.

For the first four days, the students will attend classes on different subjects like law, humanities, spiritualism and others before beginning of the regular classes on medical subjects.

Students will take practical classes at the Capital Hospital here till institute's own hospital is developed.

They students will be provided accommodation at a private hostel till the hostels are ready, the director said.

"We are hopeful that the construction works will be completed by March 2013," a senior official said.