Shillong, Apr 21: Health Minister AL Hek on Saturday reviewed the proposed construction of Tura medical college.

The review meeting was attended by officials of the Meghalaya health department and representatives of a construction company.

“The department will start the construction of the Tura medical college even though there are some issues,” Hek said.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 234.89 crore.

Informing that the first lowest bidder (contractor) has quoted slightly higher than the sanctioned amount for the project, Hek said that the government was keen to start the project at the earliest.

“The matter has been forwarded to the finance and planning department for approval. For an exceeding amount of Rs 8 or Rs 9 crore, we would not like to stall such a massive project and all procedures will be followed in this regard,” Hek said.

The Tura Medical College with 100 seats, will come up on a 100-acre land at Doldegre, 8 km from Tura, and the Centre has so far sanctioned Rs 51 crore to start the project.

With regards to the Shillong Medical College, the minister said that the government has already signed an agreement with a Kolkata-based KPC Medical College.

According to Hek, the construction of the Shillong medical college at the Reid Chest Hospital would begin after patients were shifted to a new TB hospital at Umsawli which is yet to be fully completed.

“I will also hold a review shortly to understand as to why the new TB hospital at Umsawli is being delayed,” Hek said.

Last year, former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had laid the foundation stone for the 500 bedded Shillong medical college to be set up on a PPP mode and initially the student intake of 100 will be taken up of which 40 per cent will be reserved for students from Meghalaya.