<span style="color: #222222;">Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has welcomed the decision of Odisha government to operate the Mahanadi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MIMSAR) in Talcher in Odisha, being built by the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL). <br />''<br />''Referring to the Prime Minister's vision of establishing at least one medical college in every district of the country to further strengthen healthcare for all, the Minister hoped that the Government of Odisha and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited will work together for the early operationalization of the institute.<br />''<br />''AIR correspondent reports that the institute, MIMSAR, being built by the MCL at a cost of 492 crore rupees was initially proposed to be run by MCL itself on PPP mode. <br />''<br />''However, after intervention by the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has accorded in-principle approval yesterday to operationalize the institute. Accordingly, while MCL will provide necessary funds for the establishment and running costs, the State Health and Family Welfare Department will run the institute. <br />''<br />''Built on about 20 acres of land, MIMSAR will have 100 MBBS seats for students and 500 beds for patients. It will cater to the health need of around 70 lakh people in 7 districts of the state and the educational need of the students of the state who aspire to become doctors. </span><br />