By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 14, 2015 : Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a major subsidiary of coal behemoth Coal India, on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the public sector blue chip Navaratna enterprise National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd. (NBCC), for setting-up a Medical College at Talcher in Odisha.

The MoU was signed by General Manager (CSR) BB Mishra for MCL and VK Goel, General Manager (Civil), NBCC, in the presence of MCL chairman-cum-managing director, A N Sahay,

The estimated project cost of the proposed medical college is pegged at Rs 493 crore and the construction work for 100-seat Medical College at Talcher will commence shortly.

The MCL has plans to set up state-of-the-art medical college on 20 acres of land in Talcher coalfields. It will have separate academic and residential blocks with 300-bedded boys’ hostel, 200-bedded girls’ hostel , interns’ and nurses hostel.

The existing 115-bedded Nehru Shatabadi Central Hospital of MCL in Talcher will be upgraded to 500 beds for the upcoming Medical College.

In fact, MCL was hurried to sign the MoU following protests by local people and displeasure shown by chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the delay in implementing the project.

A bandh sponsored by lawyers in Talcher industrial belt demanding early establishment of the medical college and hospital had paralyzed coal production and normal life on July 28.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a review of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of CPSUs had expressed displeasure over the delay in setting up of the proposed medical college project by MCL at Talcher.

The state government had assured to provide 20 acres of land free of cost for the project and MCL will have to bear all other expenditures.

The project, targeted to be commissioned by 2016-17 academic year, however, will get delayed, sources said.