Patna Medical College's MBBS students and teachers will have a place to relax with a hot cuppa on campus from this week.

The college is setting up a riverside cafeteria in a section of the library for the students and teachers to enjoy refreshments while taking in views of the Ganga.

"A part of the library is being used to set up the cafeteria," S.N. Sinha, the medical college principal said. "So, the MBBS students and teachers can enjoy tea, coffee and refreshments without venturing out of the campus. There would be coffee vending machines too. The best part is the cafeteria's windows would open on to the riverside and everyone can enjoy the view while enjoying their refreshments."

The cafeteria has been set up on an 1,000sqft area. Sinha said the cafeteria will be inaugurated "within this week".

PMCH students would also enjoy an e-library soon. "We have boughtmore books and journals for the library. Earlier, the library was only on one floor but we have added another floor. We are also going to start an e-library. We will float tenders very soon to choose an agency to execute the work. The Medical Council of India has time and again pointed at the deficiency of journals and books in the college library."

That's not all - Sinha said the students would get a new lecture theatre as well. "Construction of the lecture theatre has started. The existing lecture theatres can accommodate only 150 students but the new one would be able to accommodate around 280 students at one time," Sinha said. "It would be air-conditioned and equipped with facilities such as projector and microphone."

MBBS students are upbeat about the new facilities. "It's great to know that we would have a riverside cafeteria," said a second year MBBS student. "Right now we do not have many choices for refreshments at the college. The e-library is also a good concept."