Jharkhand's loss is Uttar Pradesh's gain.

After apparently getting cold-shouldered by state governments in Jharkhand and Bihar, New York-based paediatrician Jamil Akhtar, who has his roots in Ranchi, seems to have got the green light for his ambitious Rs 1,000-crore medical college project from Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Akhtar, now 61, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Paediatrics, has teamed up with some 15 NRI doctors in the US and several US-based NGOs, to start this project, most likely in Greater Noida.

"We will offer degree courses in medical, dental and paramedical branches in the college, which will also offer a 1,000-bed hospital," told Akhtar to The Telegraph.

The medical college and hospital will be run on no-profit, no-loss basis. It will also offer free treatment and medicines to poor patients. Reputable experts from the US will be deputed on rotation basis, Akhtar said.

The best part from any state government's point of view is that Akhtar and his friends don't need financial aid.

"We will pay the price of land that is likely to be allotted to us based along Noida-Agra Expressway," Akhtar said.

Why didn't this project come up in Jharkhand then?

"The past five years, I've repeatedly spoken to Jharkhand government on this issue, but to no avail," Akhtar said.

He also contacted Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for this project, which also proved futile, he added.

Only two months ago, he secured Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's phone number.

"Last month, I called him up from the US and told him of my plans. He was highly impressed and asked me to come for a personal interview. After five minutes or so his private secretary called back and said that I could come to Lucknow on August 4," Akhtar said.

On his reaching Lucknow, Yadav gave him a patient hearing. The Greater Noida Development Authority was asked to identify land at the earliest, Akhtar recounted.

"We were shown land within three days. I told the UP chief minister that the hospital and medical college will be run the US way, which he appreciated. We want to do something for India," Akhtar said.

Born and brought up in Ranchi, Akhtar moved to the US in the early 1980s. But, he keeps coming to Ranchi regularly and often helps the poor in his personal capacity.

About three years ago, he helped a Gaucher's disease victim in Ranchi - teen Sadaf Naaz - get necessary medical assistance. Last year, he put up medical relief camps in flood-ravaged Jammu & Kashmir.

"We want to do something good in Jharkhand, too. Earning money is no more our motto," Akhtar signed off.