Mumbai to have three more medical colleges

There's good news for those aspiring to be doctors. The state medical education department has decided to set up three medical colleges in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Sources said that two of these colleges will be in Wadala and Alibaug. The third one will be in the suburbs, but it yet to be confirmed where. Currently, there are 18 medical colleges across the state.

The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) will construct the three colleges. Medical education minister Vinod Tawde confirmed the development to dna.

"MbPT already has a hospital at its Wadala campus. They are going to build a new hospital-cum-medical college. JNPT and ONGC will soon start the formalities."

Currently, there are 46 institutes for MBBS in Maharashtra at the state, civic, private and deemed university levels and there are 6,195 seats. For MD/MS, there are 44 institutes and 2,713 seats.

The Union government-run MbPT, which already has a 260-bed hospital on its Wadala campus, has set aside Rs 1,000 crore and 11.5 acres for the new project. What it is planning is a 950-bed hospital to replace the existing one, which will be demolished later.

Dr Jayesh Lele, president, Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra branch, said: "It's a great move to start a medical college and hospital in MMR, and this will definitely help people."