The state government has taken the required steps to set the ball rolling regarding the functioning of Bettiah Government Medical College.

The institution, according to Medical Council of India (MCI) parameters, was not deemed fit to be granted the status of a medical college a year ago.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 772 crore to the medical college for strengthening its infrastructure, which includes the construction of the college building and other amenities.

The steps have been taken keeping in view the MCI’s inspection later this year because earlier the apex body (MCI) had denied permission for fresh admission to the medical college.

It was only after the undertaking filed by the state government that “deficiencies would be rectified in a time-bound manner”, the MCI allowed admission for the 2014-15 academic session.

The principal of the college, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, on Sunday told The Telegraph: “Of the sanctioned fund of Rs 772 crore, the state government has already provided Rs 50 crore to the college. This amount has been transferred to the Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL) to construct a new medical college building.”

At present, the college is running on the premises of Maharani Janki Kuwar Hospital, Bettiah, in a makeshift arrangement. Absence of its own building was amongst one of the main deficiencies pointed out by the MCI in granting recognition to the college.

The other deficiency pointed out by the MCI was inadequate faculty strength. To remove this anomaly, the state government in the past couple of months appointed sufficient number of faculties to the medical college.

“At present, there are seven professors, 10 associate professors, 40 assistant professors, 15 senior residents, 12 tutors and 15 junior residents at the college,” Prasad said, which he added, fulfils the MCI’s requirement of faculty strength. The college has strength of 100 students.

Prasad was appointed the principal of the college in the first week of September. Prior to this, the medical college was in charge of an acting principal, another glitch pointed out by the MCI.

The college was established in 2002 under the guidance of The Roquiya Educational Trust, Patna. The campus is spread over 25 acres approximately.

The college consists of various buildings, comprising different faculties such as administrative block, lecture theatres and hostels for boys and girls.