Punjab government finalises Ajnala village as IIM Amritsar site

The Punjab government has finalised Awan village in Ajnala tehsil, 35 km from here, as the location for setting up the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Amritsar.

The Punjab government has finalised Awan village in Ajnala tehsil, 35 km from here, as the location for setting up the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Amritsar.

HT Image

Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has given the nod to the location and the district administration has earmarked 150 acres in the village for the prestigious institute.

Deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat told HT, “After detailed discussions, it has been decided that the IIM will come up at Awan. The site has been selected as it has good approach road and is near the international airport. The place also has a good approach road from the Fatehgarh Churian side. It is a panchayat land and there are no acquisition issues.”

Bhagat said since the chief minister had signed the documents, a central team was expected to visit the site, following which the Centre would sanction the budget.

He said the institute would give a major fillip to the place and would attract students from all over the country.

Of the eight locations seen, the administration had shortlisted two -- Awan and Sheron Bagga near Baba Bakala.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced the IIM for Punjab during the general budget of 2014. Since then the administration was on the lookout for the land.