Proposal to Open Government Medical College in Ujjain Faces Controversy Over Site Selection
The proposal to open a government medical college in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, has sparked controversy over the selection of the site. Former general secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee, Sudarshan Goyal, has criticized the decision to allocate 25 acres of land from the Government Ujjain Engineering College (UEC), which is located far away from the city on Indore Road. According to Goyal, the government should have chosen a location within an 8 km radius of the District Hospital, as per the government’s provision.
Goyal alleges that the decision to select the UEC land is intended to benefit certain land mafias who falsely claim that there is no available land near the District Hospital. He believes that the citizens of Ujjain and its surrounding areas deserve access to a government medical college and should not be deprived of this facility. Instead, Goyal suggests that the college could be established at one of five alternative locations just in front of the District Hospital, at a distance of 500 meters. These locations include Sankhya Raje Maternity Hospital, Binod-Vimal Mill, Indore Textile, Heera Mill Ki Chal, and Naresh Ginning Factory on Agar Road, all of which are centrally located within the city and offer sufficient space.
The advantage of selecting one of these alternative sites, according to Goyal, is that it would facilitate future modernization and expansion. Additionally, due to the presence of railway and bus stands in these areas, it would be easier for villagers from nearby areas to access the medical college. These five locations have previously provided employment opportunities for hundreds of people, adding to their viability as suitable sites for the proposed project. Therefore, Goyal has demanded that a proposal be sent to the government to construct the new medical college on any of the five mentioned lands.
The controversy surrounding the site selection for the government medical college highlights differing opinions on the accessibility and convenience of the chosen location. While the proposed allocation of land from UEC may have its advantages, those opposing the decision argue for alternative sites that are closer to the District Hospital and more centrally located within the city. As this debate continues, it remains to be seen how the government will address the concerns raised and whether alternative sites will be considered for the establishment of the medical college in Ujjain.
