SHILLONG: Health and Family Welfare Minister, A L Hek on Saturday reviewed the progress of implementation of the proposed Tura Medical College project in his residence with officials of the health department and the construction company which would undertake the work
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Hek said that the department would immediately take up the construction of the Tura medical college even though there were some issues.
He said that L 1 contractor has quoted slightly higher amount than the sanctioned amount for the project.
However, the government is keen to start the project at the earliest and the matter has been forwarded to the Finance and Planning department for the approval.
“For an exceeding amount of Rs 8-9 crores, we would not like to stall such a massive project and definitely all the procedures will be followed in this regard,” Hek said.
The Rs 189-crore Tura Medical College with 100 seats will come up on 100 acres in Doldegre, 8 km from Tura and the Centre last year sanctioned Rs 51 crore to start the project.
Responding to a query about the Shillong Medical College, Hek said that the government had signed the agreement with Kolkata-based KPC Medical College.
According to Hek, the construction of the medical college in Reid Chest Hospital in Jhalupara would begin after the patients are shifted to new TB hospital at Umsawli which is yet to be fully completed.
“I am going to take a review shortly as to why the new TB hospital at Umsawli is being delayed,” Hek said.
Last year, former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had laid the foundation stone for the 500-bed Shillong medical college to be set up on a PPP mode with initial students’ intake capacity of 100 of which 40 per cent will be reserved for students from Meghalaya.
