Bhubaneswar, Oct. 3: The state government has asked the National Thermal Power Corporation to expedite the process of setting up a medical college and hospital in Sundargarh.

Health secretary P.K. Mohapatra said: “We have discussed the modalities related to setting up of the medical college.”

The 400-bed hospital will extend quality services to the district’s tribal people. The medical college’s intake capacity will be 500.

The company has announced to set up a 1,600MW thermal power plant (2x800) at Darlipalli in the district. It hopes to commission the super plant by 2018.

The government has already started acquiring land for the projects.

Mahanadi Coal Field Limited is also planning to set up a medical college at Talcher. Nearly Rs 500 crore will be invested to build the super-speciality hospital.

The company also plans to convert its existing 200-bed medical facility at Talcher into a 450-bed hospital.

Sources said the state government had also asked the National Alumina Company Limited to set up a medical college and hospital in the state.