For the five autonomous engineering colleges in the state, VJTI, UDCT, CoEP, VIT and SGGS Institute of Engineering and Technology, there is an independent admission procedure, held two to three weeks before the admission process for other engineering colleges begins. “If admission is confirmed in any of these colleges, a student is forced to continue and therefore he/she will lose the chance in other reputed colleges, for which admissions are held later,” said R P Joshi, vice-president of Maharashtra AMUEC.

The association, which represents around 200 private unaided engineering colleges in the state, had raised the suggestion at a meeting convened by DTE two months ago.

DTE director S K Mahajan said the DTE is yet to take a decision. “The association put forward the demand at the last meeting. It will be discussed in the next meeting. It will also be taken up with the principal secretary, education, and after that the government will take a decision,” he said.

However, the autonomous engineering colleges are averse to the idea. “If the admission processes are conducted simultaneously, there will be a common application form. In that case, the option of counselling will not be available,” said a senior official.