Centre clears Rs 1,468 crore VGF aid for 9 AP medical colleges

Vijayawada: In a significant boost to the construction of medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh, the Centre has, in principle, agreed to extend financial aid of Rs 1,468.3 crore in the form of viability gap funding (VGF) for the construction of nine medical colleges in two phases.Under Phase I, the state govt has proposed the construction of medical colleges at Markapuram, Adoni, and Madanapalle.The total project cost of these three medical colleges is estimated at Rs 592.70 crore for Markapuram, Rs 634.50 crore for Adoni, and Rs 646.22 crore for Madanapalle. Under the VGF scheme, the Centre has agreed to provide Rs 100.76 crore (17% of the total project cost) for Markapuram, Rs 158.63 crore (25%) for Adoni, and Rs 174.50 crore (27%) for Madanapalle.Under Phase II, the govt intends to develop medical colleges at Amalapuram, Bapatla, Narsipatnam, Palakollu, and Penukonda, with the cumulative project cost estimated at Rs 3,233.55 crore. For these medical colleges, the Centre has agreed to provide Rs 164 crore (27%) for Amalapuram, Rs 274.54 crore (39%) for Bapatla, Rs 191.80 crore (30%) for Narsipatnam, Rs 216.74 crore (33%) for Palakollu, and Rs 187.83 crore (30%) for Penukonda under the VGF scheme.

“The state govt is leaving no stone unturned to complete the construction of the medical colleges at the earliest and commence student admissions,” Health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav told TOI.Under Phase I, VGF funding will be provided for three medical colleges, while the medical college at Pulivendula, where a majority of the civil works have already been completed, will not require VGF support. Instead, a separate tender under the PPP model will be floated to complete the pending works at all four medical colleges.“Further, land identification for the construction of the Parvathipuram Medical College is underway. Once suitable land is identified, the state government will approach the Centre seeking VGF support for the project,” the health minister added.