Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday inaugurated buildings worth Rs 904 crore of the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

The first phase of the redevelopment plan of PMCH to turn it into the country’s largest hospital has been completed.

Nitish also laid down the foundation stones of 16 other projects on the occasion.

The buildings inaugurated at the PMCH include the outpatient department (OPD), a 550-bed hostel for medical students, a multi-level vehicle parking facility, and a 132/ 33 KV green, gas insulated power substation. Nitish inspected the projects after inaugurating them.

Nitish said the second phase of the redevelopment of PMCH “will begin in March, while the third phase will also be started soon to expedite the completion of the entire plan”.

Deputy chief ministers, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, were present on the occasion.

Nitish had laid the foundation stone for PMCH redevelopment in February 2021. The government intends to complete the work in seven years.

The origins of the PMCH date back to 1874 when the British established the Temple Medical School in Patna and took in 30 students. The Prince of Wales Medical College replaced it in 1925. It is at present the state’s largest hospital with 1,750 beds but will have 5,462 beds after the three-phase project is over.

The government also has plans to expand the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences at Patna, Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital at Muzaffarpur, Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital at Gaya and Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital. The government is also converting additional primary health centres into health and wellness centres.