Bhubaneswar: The Centre on Thursday gave an in-principle nod to the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, to set up a medical college and hospital on its campus.

In a letter to the director of NIT-Rourkela, the Union ministry of health and family welfare has asked the institute to submit a formal application in this regard between June 15 and July 7.

The permission has been granted for establishment of a medical college under Section 10A of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, based on an application made for the purpose.

If the medical college-cum-hospital comes up, it will of great help for the people living in and around the city.

"It will help in giving quality healthcare to the common people from this part of the country. The medical college will have all modern medical facilities and we will try our best to provide all sort of help," said NIT-Rourkela registrar S.K. Upadhyay.

On the other hand, uncertainty continues to loom over the formal opening of the government medical college in Balasore from the current academic session as the Medical Council of India is yet to come to the institute for a final inspection before finally approving the launch of the course.