Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ranchi will finally have its own campus now as the premier B-school received ownership rights for land plot sprawling over 60.04 acres in HEC area on Thursday.
Additional Collector Anjani Kumar Mishra presented the land documents to institute’s Director-in-Charge Anindya Sen during a brief ceremony at the current IIM, Ranchi campus in Suchna Bhawan.
“IIM Ranchi was deprived of a land plot for permanent campus despite several attempts whereas several universities and colleges which came later received the privilege. Anyhow, the piece of land given to them now is better than those appraised previously. Now, IIM Ranchi should give preference to students from Jharkhand so that they too can contribute here which is greatly needed,” stated Mishra.
Opening its first academic session with 44 students in 2010, the eighth IIM of the nation housed its academic and administrative operations in top-two rented floors at Suchna Bhawan on Myer’s Road, which also accommodates Governor’s Secretariat and offices of Information and Public Relation Department. Close to completing six years of its beginning, IIM Ranchi now has an attendance of 400 students in various disciplines of post graduate management courses.
Although endeavours to acquire land for a permanent campus of its own began soon after its inception, they did not deliver desired results. Attempts to acquire land in Nagri, Khute and Cherri were foiled by protests by locals and other hindrances. Finally, the plot near Jagannathpur Temple was chosen and handed over.
Conforming to the need of the hour, the new structure will feature several environment-friendly facilities –using solar power, rain water harvesting and recycling used water to name a few. The proposed campus is well placed too with RBI and passport offices in near vicinity and Birsa Munda Airport merely 12 km away
“Our plan is to construct the building in vertical format for optimum use of available land. Even now, the plot is riddled with an overhead high-tension wire and demands from locals to spare some part for a graveyard. These are certain minor impediments associated with the piece of land but they can be sorted fairly easily. Apart from them, property is perfectly suitable,” quipped Sen.
The hiccups will be resolved soon, assured Mishra. “Going by the book, encroachment and uncalled claims on the land will be cleared within a month. As for the overhead high-tension wire, it will be removed soon,” he said.
“We have been assured that the impediments will be sorted out soon. With them out of the way, we will extend you the news of completion of the building within two or three years,” stated Sen.