Mumbai: Various measures are being taken to speed up the planned construction projects under the Department of Medical Education (DME) in the state, and the work should be completed on time while maintaining quality, said Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif on Thursday.

During a meeting to discuss the planned construction projects under DME, the minister reviewed the construction of government medical colleges in Amaravati and Latur, the mental health center in Pune, and the children's hostel and government medical college at Sir J.G. Hospital in Washim. He also reviewed the ongoing construction of government medical colleges in Ambernath, Palghar, and Hinganghat.

At the meeting, where MED Secretary Dheerajkumar, Commissioner Rajeev Nivatkar, and Director Ajay Chandanwale were also present, Mushrif also asked about the progress on the planned construction of government medical colleges in Hingoli, Nashik, Gadchiroli, Sangli, and Mumbai. Additionally, there was a discussion about the supplementary demands to be presented at the 2025 budget session.

The meeting came a day after the minister had directed that all necessary facilities, equipment, and manpower for the Government Medical College in Sindhudurg district be provided immediately. While addressing the vacant positions of professors at the college, he instructed that these positions be filled within six months.

The minister issued these instructions during a meeting held on Wednesday at the ministry under his chairmanship to discuss the challenges faced by the medical college.

Mushrif further elaborated that the vacant teaching positions at the college should be filled within the next six months. He specifically mentioned that positions for Class III and Class IV employees, along with technical and non-technical roles, should be filled through external agencies. He stressed the need for transparency in the recruitment process and urged that all positions be filled within the next eight months.

The minister also suggested that faculty members from locations with surplus positions be transferred to Sindhudurg to ensure smooth operations at the college. Additionally, he recommended that the Health Department grant permission for the demolition of the Nursing College hostel building and that temporary accommodation be arranged for nursing students.

For this purpose, rental spaces should be acquired, and department officials should visit the college to assess the situation, provide necessary information on improvements, and expedite the construction of new buildings, he said.