Puttur MLA holds preliminary meet on medical college

Mangaluru: Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai on Sunday held a preliminary meeting with officials and the public to discuss setting up the govt medical college in his constituency, which the govt sanctioned in the state budget.
While 40 acres is already reserved, efforts will be made to open the govt medical college as soon as possible. A detailed project report (DPR) for the medical college will be prepared, and chief minister Siddaramaiah will be requested to lay the foundation for a 300-bed hospital in the first phase. Once the medical college is functional, efforts will also be made to commence postgraduate courses as well as paramedical courses, the MLA said.
"The establishment of a govt medical college in Puttur fulfilled the long-standing aspirations of its residents. Various organisations have been putting pressure on the govt for a medical college. However, the file pertaining to the govt medical college in Puttur was pending in the taluk office for five years. I took the initiative to move the files to the govt immediately and also held discussions with the CM, ministers, and officials to expedite the project," Rai said.
While preparing a master plan for the medical college, major constructions should be developed on 20 acres in the initial phase. Later, the remaining 20 acres should be utilised to develop paramedical college buildings, an Ayurveda medical college, and other wings. Construction of a 300-bed hospital in the first phase will be the beginning of the establishment of a medical college. A full-fledged medical college will provide a multi-speciality hospital with over 400 beds, he explained. "We need to convert Puttur into a medical hub in phases," the MLA said.
Establishing a medical college will also foster considerable development in the region. An industrialist has come forward to invest nearly Rs 300 crore to set up an industry that will provide jobs to 1,500 people, and we have reserved 25 acres for the purpose, he added.
An official informed that the govt has sought a report to prepare a DPR for the medical college soon after the budget announcement. As per the MCI guidelines, facilities for 50 students intake per year and a hospital with a minimum of 300 beds need to be constructed to establish a medical college. Plans will also be prepared to develop a new taluk hospital building and the development of roads, the official said.
Former MLA Shakunthala Shetty and representatives of various organisations participated in the meeting.