The West Bengal Government has decided to set up seven more medical colleges at a cost of Rs 1,750 cr. Five of these would start functioning before the next Assembly election in 2021.

These five are to be set up at Barasat, Arambagh, Tamluk, Uluberia and Jhargram. The other two would be located in the districts of Jalpaiguri and Paschim Bardhaman, the official sources on November 1 said. All five would have 100 seats each. The hospitals attached to each of these would have 500 beds. Hence there would be enough patients for medical students to have clinical experience.

The construction of the buildings in Barasat, Arambagh and Tamluk has already started. Four medical colleges in the State have already received the permission of Medical Council of India this year to start functioning while another is expected to receive it soon.