Cuttack, Dec. 14: The Medical Council of India (MCI)'s recommendation of a cut in the number of seats at the SCB Medical College and Hospital here because of inadequate infrastructure has forced the authorities to expedite ongoing projects.

Official sources said a majority of the inadequacies pointed out by the MCI team was because of non-completion of ongoing projects. They also blamed the executing agencies for running behind schedule in completing the projects worth Rs 135 crore.

The college authorities have already issued an ultimatum to the agencies that are involved in the constructing of, among others, an academic block and hostels, to complete the pending work by the end of December.

Health secretary P.K. Meherda last week reviewed the ongoing projects and directed SCB officials to prepare a detailed compliance report during a meeting.

A team from the medical council, in its recommendation, asked the Centre not to renew the health care unit's provision for increased intake for the fifth batch for the 2017-18 session. The development came after an MCI team, during its last round of inspection, found deficiencies in the infrastructure available.

Sources said amongother things the MCI team had found that SCB had a shortage of three examination halls that can accommodate 250 students each.

"The deficiencies pointed out by the MCI are part of a routine inspection. ," said SCB Medical College and Hospital principal Sidharth Das.