Guwahati: The Modi government has given its nod for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Guwahati, announced Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday. IIM Ahmedabad will serve as the mentor institution for IIM Guwahati, marking a significant step in bolstering educational infrastructure in the North East region.

Sharing a letter from the Higher Education Ministry to the director of IIM Ahmedabad, CM Sarma disclosed that the decision to establish the second IIM in the North East was made on April 10. However, the announcement was delayed due to the model code of conduct in place during the general elections, which concluded recently. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Sarma tweeted, "Following our request in 2023, Hon PM Shri Narendra Modi ji has given a special gift to the people of Assam by approving an Indian Institute of Management near Guwahati, making it among the few cities to house an IIT, AIIMS, National Law University & now IIM.”

The letter revealed that the Assam government had proposed land at four different sites for the institution. After thorough evaluation, a 76.8332-hectare plot at Marabhita, located approximately 25 km southwest of Guwahati near Chhaygaon town, was selected by a site selection committee led by Prof. V K Paul of the School of Planning and Architecture.

The Higher Education Department has accepted all recommendations made by the site selection committee, leading to the grant of in-principle approval from the union ministry for the establishment of the new IIM at Marabhita in Kamrup District near Guwahati. Additionally, IIM Ahmedabad has been designated as the Mentor Institute for the proposed new IIM. The Ministry of Education directed IIM Ahmedabad to collaborate with the Secretary of the Higher Education Department and the Government of Assam to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the new IIM in Kamrup.

This initiative is poised to position Guwahati as a prominent academic hub south of the Brahmaputra River, complementing existing major institutions such as Guwahati University and Assam Engineering College. CM Sarma emphasized the collaborative potential of premier institutes like IIM Guwahati, envisioning them to catalyze multidisciplinary education and drive economic growth in Assam and Eastern India. Highlighting the swift decision-making process, CM Sarma underscored, “As evident from the letters, the swift transformation from idea to execution illustrates the power of a Double Engine government.”

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