Punjab budget 2022-23: Mohali to get another medical institute

The super-specialty hospital planned in Mohali will be a dedicated centre of excellence for the diagnosis and management of liver and biliary diseases

In a major health-infrastructure boost for Mohali, the AAP-led Punjab government in its maiden budget on Monday announced another super-specialty medical institute for the district.

Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while presenting the Punjab budget on Monday, also said the state government aimed to make Mohali a hub of industry and information technology. (Ravi Kumar/HT)

Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while presenting the Punjab budget, also said the Punjab government aimed to make Mohali a hub of industry and information technology (IT).

As announced, the Punjab government will set up the state-of-the-art “Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences” at Mohali. The super-specialty hospital will be a dedicated centre of excellence for the diagnosis and management of liver and biliary diseases, and to provide advanced training and research in the field of hepato-biliary sciences.

This will be the second government medical institute in Mohali after Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Science in Phase 6.

Affiliated with Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, the medical college was set up during the previous Congress government’s regime in the building of the existing Mohali civil hospital. The first MBBS batch with 100 seats started in May this year, but the AAP-led Punjab government is now working to relocate the medical college.

To make the district an IT hub, the government proposed to set up a financial technology (Fintech) City near Mohali, where all facilities will be provided to encourage private participation in areas like financial technology, block-chain technology and artificial intelligence.

Besides, to develop Punjab as an industrial hub, the government will be acquiring around 490 acres in Mohali to set up industries.

The budget also focused on increasing security and safety of common people. To step up the surveillance, the government will install CCTV cameras across the district at a cost of ₹5 crore.

The government has also identified 17.5 acres at Kurara village to construct a modern District Jail in Mohali. For this, initial funds of ₹10 crore will be proposed in the 2022-23 budget.

For providing welfare services to the Scheduled Caste people, the government will set up Dr BR Ambdekar Bhawan at Mohali, which will house all offices under one roof. An old-age home will also be set up in the district for ex-servicemen.

Apart from this, the government plans to set up a Jal Bhawan at a cost of ₹10 crore to strengthen the repair and maintenance of infrastructure of water supply schemes.