Chandigarh, Jan 29 (IANS): Responding to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's request, the Centre has given approval for setting up a new Government Medical College at Hoshiarpur, besides upgrading the existing local Civil Hospital.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conveyed its approval to the state government on Tuesday evening under the centrally sponsored scheme for setting up the new medical college attached with existing district/referral hospital (Phase-III), according to an official spokesperson.

As per the announcement, the new medical college would be set up at a cost of Rs 325 crore, of which Rs 195 crore, i.e. 60 per cent share, would be met by the Centre.

The remaining 40 per cent to the tune of Rs 130 crore would be contributed by the Punjab government as the state's share for the college.

The upcoming medical college is the first-of-its-kind in the Kandi region, with an intake capacity of 100 seats and would be instrumental in providing quality healthcare and diagnostic services, besides giving impetus to medical education and research in the region.

Conceding a request from Amarinder Singh, the Centre has also cleared a proposal for upgrading the Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur, thereby enhancing its bed capacity from the existing 200 to 500, with the latest medical infrastructure facilities added to the hospital.

Notably, there are three government medical colleges already functioning in the state, Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala. Two other medical colleges are already being set up at SAS Nagar Mohali and Kapurthala, with the sixth now sanctioned for Kapurthala.