Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has earmarked 30 acres of land for the setting up of second campus of Rama Devi Women's University in Gothapatna on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Higher Education Minister Ananta Das informed during the inauguration ceremony of the 400-bed girls' hostel 'Annapurna'.
"Around 30 acres of land have been allotted near prestigious institutions like IIIT. I have personally visited the place before finalising it for the second campus of Ramadevi University," Das said.
On the other hand vice-chancellor of the university Padmaja Mishra has expressed displeasure over the decision and said that they would urge the State government to allocate land inside the city.
"We are not so happy about the decision as the land is situated far away from the city. In the near future it is not possible for students to stay there and study. It will be better if land can be provided inside the city," Mishra said.
Earlier, the State government had decided to establish the second campus of the Rama Devi Women’s University on the premises of the Utkal University. However, after protests by students of the Utkal University the government was forced to withdraw the plan.
Initially the government had selected a piece of land in Daspur, but dropped the plan after the location was deemed too remote.