Hectic preparations for first lecture of IIM Amritsar in temporary campus

AMRITSAR: Last minute preparations are afoot at the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Amritsar, at the Government Polytechnic College campus situated near Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) to begin its first full-fledged lecture of two-year postgraduate diploma in business management beginning from the first week of August.
According to sources, all remaining work required to set up the temporary campus for IIM Amritsar would be completed by July 30 for which various teams were working day and night. Sources said that hectic preparations were going on to upgrade classrooms, including air conditioning, partitioning of large rooms, making faculty rooms and setting up information technology-enabled library. Meanwhile, John G Varghese has taken charge of senior administrative officer (academic) at IIM Amritsar.
Sources said that the first batch would comprise of 55 students, including 10 girls, for whom adequate hostel arrangements had been made. Arrangement for boys had been made in the hostel of Chief Khalsa Diwan while girl students would be staying in the hostel facility of polytechnic college. The stay arrangement for the IIM Amritsar faculty has been made in Amritsar. Date for induction programme of the institute would be announced in the near future, said sources.
Sources further said that the process of formation of IIM Amritsar society by the Union ministry of human resources development was underway. Earlier, the foundation stone-laying ceremony of IIM Amritsar was postponed due to non-transfer of 60 acres of land at Manawala on society's name ahead of finance minister Arun Jaitley's visit few days ago. However, formal inauguration for induction programme of IIM Amritsar at its temporary campus is scheduled for August 1 following which regular classes would begin.
Sources said the IIM would be managed by society which was to be created under the Societies Act. The society will further constitute a board of governors for running IIM Amritsar.