The North Orissa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Nocci) on Tuesday, while hailing the Central Government’s decision to establish an IIM (Indian Institute of Management) in Odisha, demanded its location at Baleswar.
“The IIM would not only impart world-class management education but also create a learning environment for the professionals of the State. We urge the State Government to establish this premier institution at Baleswar instead of the State capital region for several valid reasons,” said Nocci convener Amit Behera.
He argued that spreading out important institutions away from the State capital region would ensure growth of a widespread area. Baleswar is a manufacturing hub, well connected by rail road, and almost equidistant from two States’ capitals (Bhubaneswar and Kolkata) and major cities with manufacturing activities and airports and close to two more manufacturing zones of Kalinganagar and Jamshedpur.
“Proximity to the Kharagpur and Kolkata would help integration with the ecosystem of IIT and IIM. Presence of two establishments of DRDO, the PXE and ITR, in Baleswar would also be of immense advantage. last not the least, adequate land and other infrastructures are readily available here with potential for the institution’s further growth,” Behera said, adding, “We, therefore, hope the Government would conduct a study on the suitability of the location of the proposed IIM and take a decision based on our above inputs.”