Decks cleared for Birla global varsity in Odisha

The state govt has leased out 30 acres of land at Gothpatna on city's outskirts

The decks have been cleared for establishment of the Birla Global university proposed in Odisha. A screening committee of the state government headed by chief secretary B K Patnaik has given its nod for the private university.

The proposed university, envisioned as a world class institution, will come up at Gothpatna on the city’s outskirts where the state government has already leased out 30 acres of land. BK Birla controlled Birla Academy of Art & Culture that has proposed the university, has already opened Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) in the city. Total project cost of the university has been estimated at Rs 86 crore of which Rs 70 crore has been invested.

The university envisages a total student strength of 995 with teaching staff of 79, 55 non-teaching staff and 25 visiting faculty. Faculty-student ratio has been pegged at 1:10.

In the first phase, the proposed Birla Global university will have eight schools – school of management, school of development & sustainability, school of communication, school of law, school of social science & humanities, school of architecture & planning, school of tribal studies and school of doctoral studies.

Four new schools are to be added in the second phase- school of design school of engineering & technology, school of international affairs and Centre of Odisha art & culture.

Being set up on a land area of 30 acres, the proposed varsity will have a total built-up area of 27,719 sq metres (m). While the the academic and administrative blocks will occupy an area of 9,000 sq m and 3,142 sq m respectively, 10,054 sq m has been set aside for hostels.

The fee structure ranges from Rs 70,000 to Rs 330,000 depending on courses. The university proposes to reserve 30 per cent of its seats for Odisha students besides offering scholarship for SC/ST students.