IIM-A, XLRI put Hyderabad entry on hold
Political uncertainty in Andhra Pradesh has made the country's
two top B-schools - Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), and XLRI,
Jamshedpur - put on hold their plans to set up campuses in the state. IIM-A and
XLRI were invited in 2008 by late chief minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR).
"After YSR's death and due to the agitation for Telangana, there is an atmosphere
of uncertainty. Former chief minister K. Rosaiah also wrote to us that they wanted
to take it forward, but, then again, there was a change in the government. The situation
here is fluid and since the initiative is yet to come from the right quarters, things
have not happened as planned," said IIM-A Dean B. H. Jajoo.
In June 2010, IIM-A had said it was in talks with the state government. It sought
150 acres and Rs 100 crore funding from the government. "Verbally, the government
promised 100 acres closer to Hitec City. In the last two years, nothing much has
happened. Once we get going, we don't need the political support. We do plan to
set up our campus here but are waiting for clarity and an opportune time," he said.
XLRI's plans have been hit as the government is yet to transfer land. XLRI had sought
75 acres. Rosaiah wrote to XLRI in August 2010, requesting it to set up a campus
in Hyderabad and promising support. The XLRI governing board, too, approved the
proposal. The land was to be allotted at Jawahar Nagar on the city's outskirts,
close to BITS, Pilani.
"The land allotment is still pending," said an XLRI faculty member.
IIM-A had planned to begin by offering executive programmes and later explore the
possibility of starting academic programmes. The institute wanted to link the Ahmedabad
and Hyderabad campuses for seamless operations. XLRI, on the other hand, had plans
for a full-fledged campus. At present, it offers satellite courses at its Hyderabad
centre.
According to government sources, the land selected by XLRI belongs to
the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). HMDA, though a government
outfit, is a commercial organisation and so can transfer land only on a payment
basis. The same is the case with IIM-A.
Courtesy: msn Education
