What is the new bid by the IIM-A and the controversy around it?
The institute has invited an Expressions of Interest (EOI) from architectural and design firms for ‘comprehensive design of student housing at Main Campus’, a five-year-long two-phased project likely to commence mid-2021 with 60 to 80 per cent dorms (nearly 600 rooms) followed by student housing of nearly 200 rooms in the second phase expected to commence mid-2024. The institute targets to add 50 to 60 per cent (nearly 300 rooms to existing 500) additional rooms with efficient use of space.
This, even as well known Mumbai conservation architects Somaya and Kalappa Consultants (SNK) were working on an ongoing restoration project on the campus that included the 18 dormitories, the Vikram Sarabhai Library, the faculty and administrative block and the classroom building. SNK won the competition for the restoration in 2014 and was “not aware” of the new bid. The conservation architects had restored dorm D-15 as a sa