Medical college yet to materialise, two years after announcement

The works on the Government Medical College, announced in the 2013-14 State Budget, is under progress, but admission of students is unlikely this academic year.

The initiation of works was delayed due to various reasons, and now, sources say that the works would be complete only in 2016. However, the director of the college Dr T N Chandrasekhar said, specialist doctors have already been appointed as teaching staff and interviews will be conducted shortly, to recruit another 30 doctors. The sanctioned strength of teaching staff is 105. “The college will start functioning from the coming academic year,” he said.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) representatives visited the college site in December last, they are expected to pay another visit this April. However, the college authorities are trying to convince the MCI to reschedule the visit for May as they expect the works on the building to be complete in April.
 Now, the civil works have reached the 40 per cent mark. Unless the building is ready with complete infrastructure for the college, the MCI will not issue permission.

The foundation laying ceremony for the works was held on February 23, 2014, but the works did not progress as the contract tender issue faced a legal litigation. Again, on September 19, 2014, another contractor launched the works, with a condition to complete it in two years.

As per the contract, the works should be fully executed by September 2016. Sources said, the main works necessary for the college may be complete by February 2016.

Besides, the college building, the 42 acre campus will house hostels for students and quarters for staffers. The estimated cost of the entire project is Rs 120 crore.

Water problem
The contractors are finding it difficult to source water for the works. They dug around 15 borewells, but all of them failed. The proposal to supply water from River Kapila in Nanjangud is a non-starter.

Permission denied
The MCI has, earlier, denied permission to the arrangements of the District Administration to start the college in a temporary building. The authorities had reserved a block of the Government Engineering College and had planned to admit students in August-September last year. But, the MCI did not permit it.