Chandigarh: The PGI administration has decided not to wait for construction of its new building in Sarangpur to roll out its MBBS undergraduate programme. From 2027, the institute plans to start the MBBS course from its main campus, along with admissions for other AIIMS-level institutions.“The medical college will not be under the National Medical Council, but the intake shall be through the NEET entrance examination,” said PGI director Prof Vivek Lal, who spearheaded the move to start the medical college.“We are exploring options, but we will definitely start MBBS in either PU, GMCH or our existing campus after working out the formalities. The building will take its own time to be constructed,” he said.Under the revised strategy, PGI will launch the course with an initial intake of 50 MBBS seats at the main campus. The class strength will be expanded to 125 seats over the next three to four years after the Sarangpur centre is ready.The standing academic committee and standing finance committee have approved the syllabus for the MBBS programme. Final ratification is set to take place at the upcoming governing body and institute body meetings.The department of expenditure, ministry of finance, has granted in-principle approval for the establishment of a 125-seat MBBS medical college, along with requisite academic, administrative, teaching and residential infrastructure at the Sarangpur campus.Following iterations and observations raised by the ministry, PGI submitted a revised detailed project report and delegated investment board proposal amounting to Rs 456 crore in Sept 2026. The complete project plan for Phase I encompasses the medical college, administrative block, an 800-seater auditorium, a sports complex, residential quarters, hostels and a shopping complex.To ensure integrated and systematic development of the Sarangpur site, the task of preparing the master plan has been assigned to the Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation (HSCC). The proposed master plan has been submitted to UT authorities for formal clearance, which is expected by Sept 30, 2027.Construction of the permanent medical college building, hostels, staff quarters and associated amenities at Sarangpur will commence following approval of the master plan.“We have asked for a separate cadre to teach the MBBS students, which shall hopefully be granted,” said the director.Plan for MBBS College–First undergraduate programme: The Sarangpur campus will house PGIMER’s first undergraduate medical programme–2027 launch: The first-year MBBS course is expected to start in 2027, following a rollout model similar to AIIMS Bilaspur–Initial intake: The programme will begin with 50 MBBS seats, with the intake planned to increase to 125 seats over three to four years–Phase I infrastructure: The initial phase will focus on the core medical college building, administrative block, accommodation facilities, student facilities and community spaces.TIMELINE2017: Proposal for the 50-acre Sarangpur satellite centre was first introduced2021: After bureaucratic delays, PGIMER officially secured the land transfer from the administration at a subsidised rate2026: PGI submitted the revised DPR and delegated investment board proposal worth Rs 456 crore2027: MBBS course expected to begin; formal clearance of the Sarangpur master plan expected by Sept 305-7 years: The complete campus is estimated to take another five to seven years to become fully operational
