XLRI plans hit airport hurdle

Jamshedpur-based Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI) is facing problems attracting international experts and visitors because the steel city lacks a proper airport.

The existing airport in the city can handle only small aircraft and pilots were reportedly reluctant to use in less than perfect conditions because of lack of infrastructure.

XLRI's plans to invite management gurus to its the campus and reposition itself as a globally competitive business school was being hampered by this.

XLRI director Fr Casimir Raj admitted the lack of a proper airport in the steel city made it tough for the institute to rope in management gurus to visit Jamshedpur.

"There are plans to upgrade the teaching procedure in the classroom. A list of experts have been prepared, but the absence of direct flights from the metro cities of the country to Jamshedpur is proving to be a dampner. The faculty has been handpicked to give our students an edge over other B-schools," he said.

Direct flights from the major cities land and take off from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state. Travel time from Ranchi was around a two-and-a-half hours by road to Jamshedpur. The round trip would take five hours.

No commercial flight land in Jamshedpur. The Sonari airport here has landing facility only for small aircraft.

"This makes it nearly impossible for invited faculty to take a flight. Moreover, travel is cumbersome for them as they are extremely busy corporate honchos. We are trying to work a way out. But an airport seems a dire necessary for the city," the XLRI director said.

XLRI was exploring other ways to make its endeavour work. "We are toying with the idea of e-classrooms. Management gurus may interact with pupils through video conferencing with two-way interaction", he said.