The students of new batch in the MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MKCGMCH) at Berhampur in Odisha’s Ganjam district face accommodation problems for inadequate rooms in the hostels.

According to sources, 250 students have taken admission to pursue MBBS courses in the medical college this year. But they are yet to get hostel accommodation for lack of vacancies.

With shortage of hostel seats, when they looked for private accommodation outside the MKCG premises, they were charged exorbitant rates by landlords. Security is also a major concern, the sources said.

There are 13 hostels for both under-graduate and post-graduate students on the MKCG College premises and 2 structures have already been declared unsafe. The 1st Ladies Hostel, where 100 girls were accommodated, was declared unsafe and has remained closed for the last one year.

Principal of the medical college Prof Santosh Kumar Mishra said four batches of MBBS have total 1,000 students and there is shortage of hostel accommodation facilities for the fresh batch. The new students can be accommodated only when the old students vacate the hostels, he added.

“Though a detailed project report (DPR) for construction of two hostels in MKCG premises has already been finalised and the money sanctioned, the tenders are yet to be floated. We expect two new hostels, once the tender process ends,” he said.

Last year, when the MKCG students faced similar hostel crisis, they were accommodated in the Special Cabin Block meant for the patients.

MKCG, the only referral medical college and hospital in southern Odisha, has 21 departments and 370 seats for two-year PG course. There are 3 hostels to accommodate PG students. While 75 girls have been accommodated in the House Surgeon Hostel, 190 Senior Residents are housed in one hostel.

Some institutions, which do not have adequate hostel facilities in the campus, tie up with private accommodations. They provide a list of such places registered with them to the students to select their choice. These accommodations meet the required standards and also charge nominal rent. The students of MKCG have demanded such facility in the medical college also.