Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s intention to set up five new Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) in the country, including one in Maharashtra — announced in the budget presentation on Thursday — could well mean that Pune will soon house an IIM.

If the IIM were to come to Pune, the city will join the ranks of 13 other cities which house the reputed institute, such as Kolkata (in pic IIM Calcutta)

MP Anil Shirole, who is keen to bring the prestigious institution to the city, said after attending his first annual budget, “Yes, there is very much the possibility that the proposed IIM for the state will come up in Pune. Since many days I am interacting with various party leaders. Recently, I had a word with the HRD minister, Smriti Irani in this regard, and she has also responded positively.”

In the budget speech, Finance Minister Jaitley made a provision of R500 crore to set up five IIMs in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Punjab and Maharashtra.

“See, Pune is already identified as the education hub of the country. Hence there is an inclination towards the city,” said Shirole of the IIM planned for Maharashtra. Interestingly, both BJP and Congress had promised to bring the top management institute to the city.

In what is yet another boost for the city’s academic circles, Jaitley announced that city-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) would be conferred with the ‘Institute of National Importance’ status.

The announcement also gave the same status to the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata.