Mumbai to get new medical college

Mumbai is set to get another medical college, Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has said.

Supported by public-private partnership, the college will come up in western suburbs.

Chavan made the announcement at the inauguration of Rajasthani Sammelan's Durgadevi Institute of Management Studies in suburban Malad yesterday.

Minister for higher and technical education, Rajesh Tope and Mumbai University vice-chancellor Dr Rajan Welukar were present on the occasion.

Chavan said the state government has proposed introduction of two new bills -- Private University Bill and Maharashtra Technical University Bill.

Universities in the state are loaded with affiliated colleges thereby affecting the quality of higher education, Chavan said. It has become essential to bifurcate these universities. and a committee will be set-up in this regard, he added.

The state government has sanctioned 15 new management institutes in Maharashtra, Tope said, adding the "initiative has been undertaken to curb the dearth of management institutes in the state."

"Accreditation will be made compulsory for all affiliated colleges and the government is proposing a law to be drafted in this regard. As per this proposed law grants will only be allocated to these accredited institutions," Tope said.

Chavan highlighted the importance of incubation centres in state universities. "They should be introduced in every university on the lines of renowned educational institutions like IITs, Harvard and Stanford," he said.