CHANDIGARH: Signalling an assertive push toward strengthening public healthcare, modernising higher education and delivering tangible relief to citizens, the Punjab Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday cleared a sweeping set of decisions, led by the approval of over 19 acres of land at Lehragaga for setting up a Medical College and Hospital.
The decisions, taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister, also include India’s first comprehensive Private Digital Open Universities Policy, 2026, extension of Amnesty Policy 2025 for plot allottees, rationalisation of GMADA property prices, approval for desilting of the Sutlej to fast-track infrastructure projects, and adjustment of staff of Baba Hira Singh Bhattal Institute in government departments, reflecting the government’s focus on healthcare expansion, education reform, infrastructure acceleration and pro-people governance.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting chaired by the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the office the Chief Minister stated that the Cabinet gave approval to allot 19 acre four Kanals land, located at Baba Hira Singh Bhatthal Technical College, Lehragaga, on nominal lease rent to Janhit society for establishing a minority medical college by the Jain community. The admission of students and allocation of seats in the medical college to be established by the Jain community shall be regulated strictly in accordance with the guidelines / notifications issued by the State Government from time to time. The fee structure for all categories of seats shall also be determined and charged strictly in accordance with the guidelines / notifications issued by the Punjab Government.
The Cabinet also decided that trust should start the functioning of hospitals at the earliest and within a period of five years from the date of execution / commencement of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The medical college would be established and operationalized with a hospital of not less than 220 beds and an intake capacity of 50 MBBS seats, and should be further expanded to a hospital of not less than 400 beds with an intake capacity of 100 MBBS seats within eight years of MOU. The move is aimed at imparting quality education to the residents of the state on one hand and emerging the state as a hub of medical education on the other.