Maha race for IIM: Six cities turn on the charm

Like lovelorn teenagers plucking rose petals nervously, at least three cities in Maharashtra are edgily awaiting the Centre's decision on the location of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) campus in the state. In the fray are Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad, each interpreting the mixed political signals in its favour.
Leading the pack of IIM suitors is Nagpur, hometown of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, which is currently abuzz with speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of both IIM and AIIMS during his visit to the city in the first week of January.But there is no dearth of optimism in Pune as well, which has found the backing of not just politicians but also academics as the 'natural' choice for an IIM and is riding high on the recent "positive" assurance of Union HRD minister Smriti Irani to Pune MP Anil Shirole. Also clinging to Irani's promise (albeit pre-election) of an IIM campus are political and industry heavyweights in Aurangabad who have in the last one week raised the demand in the assembly and in a meeting with the CM.
The latest entrants in this unfolding story are Amravati and Pimpri Chinchwad, with political leaders from both demanding that the IIM campus be set up in their jurisdictions.
The uncertainty has failed to cast a shadow on the ongoing work for the campus in each of these cities. Nagpur has already identified 200 acres of land in Mihan and even a makeshift facility for the campus to become functional from 2015 itself. Aurangabad too started its hunt for 200 acres of land in early November after the district administration there received a letter from central government officials to identify a suitable location.
The educational hub of Pune with strong industry linkages was considered as the natural pick for the IIM campus and the city has both politicians and academics batting for it. Anil Shirole said that Union HRD minister Smriti Irani is "positive about Pune's demand for IIM". "We have had detailed discussions with experts in IIM and also with the central government. We have put in all possible effort to convince the Union government that Pune is the best place for IIM in Maharashtra," Shirole said.
Professor Anil Gupta of IIM Ahmedabad pointed out other factors that would make Pune the best choice. "The first condition to set up IIM is of land. The institute would require at least 150 acre tract of land preferably away from mid city area but still connected to the city. I think Pune had advantage over other cities in Maharashtra," he said, adding that the selection of the city would also depend on its potential to attract faculty and students.
Giving no clear indication where the IIM would be set up, higher and technical education minister Vinod Tawde last week said his department was considering all the pros and cons before taking a call on the best possible location for the campus. In the fray, he said, were Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad and Mumbai (Alibaug) that had submitted their proposals. "But just having the institution is not enough, we have to examine whether it would be feasible to run it at a particular location," Tawde had said.
It's the same line that the CM chose to give to a delegation from Aurangabad that went to meet him on Thursday demanding the campus be given to the neglected region of Marathwada.
However, the political balance is tilted in favour of Nagpur. BJP sources said Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, also from Nagpur, have taken up the matter with the PM Narendra Modi. "Nagpur has strong leadership in the state and at the Centre, while Pune has no leader. It is quite possible that despite all advantages, Pune might lose its IIM race to Nagpur," said a senior BJP leader.