Patna, Jan 25 : Bihar's dream of setting up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) of its own is likely to become a reality in 2008, sources in the chief minister's office said here Friday.

"There is good news for hundreds of students aspiring for IIT and IIM as the two prestigious institutes will be set up in the state soon," an official told IANS here, declining to be named.

Last week, the higher education department of the union human resources development (HRD) ministry asked the state to provide temporary premises for setting up an IIT campus.

"This has given boost to the chances of IIT starting its academic session from 2008-09," an official source said.

He said union Human Resources Development Ministry Special Secretary K.M. Acharya in his letter to Bihar Chief Secretary R.J.M. Pillai Jan 16 asked the government to identify temporary premises where the two premier institutes could be set up.

As per the HRD specifications, the state government would have to provide a built-up area of 3530 square metres for each of the two institutes.

The state science and technology department has identified the polytechnic in Patna for setting up an IIT campus. The polytechnic has two hostels and a new building, which can accommodate around 200 students.

Similarly, IIM will start functioning from a temporary campus situated in the heart of Patna. "The first batch of Chandragupta Institute of Management, the first B-school to be opened on the pattern of IIM, will start classes from the next academic session this year," official sources said.

Like other IIMs, the proposed institute will offer MBA and other management degrees. Admission to IIM-Patna will be through the Common Admission Test (CAT). It would start with a batch of 60 students initially.

(IANS)

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