Centre asks Odisha to provide land for IIM

The Union Human Resource Ministry has requested the Odisha government to provide free land measuring 200 acre inside the state for establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

The land must be free from litigation and should be situated in a city that has better rail, road and air connectivity, Ashok Thakur, secretary with the central ministry said in the letter.

The state government should suggest names of 2-3 cities for establishment of the premier management institute. After the receipt of the names, a site selection committee would visit the state to finalise a location, Thakur added.

In July, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced establishment of four new IIMs, including one in Odisha. The Odisha IIM has already been added as a choice for candidates appearing Common Aptitude Test (CAT) in November this year.

Sources said, Bhubaneswar is a front runner for establishment of the IIM as the city has better infrastructure and connectivity than any other cities of the state. Besides, it also houses Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), one the premier B-school of country.

Meanwhile, demand is growing from the residents of other towns in the state, such as Berhampur, Rourkela or Balangir for location of this premier institute at their city respectively. The government is yet to take any call on the matter.