In a bid to accommodate an increasing class size after implementing the 27% Other Backward Caste (OBC) quota, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi has begun construction of a new hostel building. The hostel is expected to be operational for the incoming batch in 2012.

The hostel will be a four-storey building set in a 600 sq m plot near the IIFT campus in Delhi’s Qutab Institutional Area. IIFT registrar Dr LD Mago told PaGaLGuY, “The new hostel is situated at a walking distance from the college premises. The hostel will have 35 twin sharing rooms, which will accommodate the first year male students of the MBA International Business program.”

Dr Mago further added that although IIFT had two hostels in the college premises, the institute was having to rent a private property in Yusuf Sarai to accommodate the increasing batch.

Our original hostels could accommodate up to 230 students. However, the 27% rise in the batch due to the OBC reservation has increased our student population to almost 300, he said

This had pushed IIFT to search for alternate living accommodation for the students on an immediate basis. A private hostel in the Yusuf Sarai area was subsequently contracted in July 2009.

“Although we did not face any problems at the Yusuf Sarai hostel, we wanted to shift the hostel from a rented property to college-owned land, said Dr Mago. The institute had then sent a request for land to the government. Our request was processed immediately and the new piece of land was allotted in May-June 2010, said Dr Mago. The tender for the construction of the building was released in August 2010.

Construction began in September 2011 and is set to finish in time for the new academic session. The new hostel will offer regular facilities such as Wi-fi Internet, mess, recreation centre and study centre.