CAT candidates in Mumbai upset with far-off centres

A number of candidates writing the Common Admission Test (CAT) on November 16 and 22 have been allotted centres up to 70km from where they live.

Candidates and coaching centres have written to IIM-Indore, the convening institute. “As there is enough time for the test, we have requested they change centres so students are not inconvenienced,” said Jaimin Shah, a teacher at a Borivli coaching centre.

Tardeo resident Harshil Mehta’s centre is in Shahpur, around 70km away, even though he selected Mumbai as his preference.

The 22-year-old said he will stay at a friend’s house in Kalyan t he day before t he test. “The pressure of the test is bad enough without having to deal with such problems,” said Harshil.

CAT 2014 convenor, Rohit Kapoor, was unavailable for comment. Around 1,96,000 candidates will write the test that decides allotment of seats in major management institutes across the country.

Another student from Thane, Lavanya Dixit, has been allotted a centre on the outskirts of Pune, although she g ave Pune as her l ast option.

A candidate from Kandivli has been given a centre in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. “The centres have been allocated randomly, with no consideration to the preference listed,” the candidate said.

A professor at IIM Indore said allocating centres is difficult logistically. “There are only six CAT test centres in Mumbai, but prefer it. It is impossible to allocate centres convenient to all.”