Centre signs MoU for Asansol ESI medical college project
Times of India | 8 August 2026
Asansol: Union minister of state for labour and employment Shobha Karandlaje, in a written statement to Rajya Sabha MP and Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Bengal govt on July 14 to hand over the ESI Hospital at Kanyapur. An application has also been submitted to the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking approval for 50 MBBS seats from the 2026–27 academic session. Bengal BJP co-in-charge Amit Malviya later shared details of the reply on X.
The minister said the hospital would be upgraded to a tertiary care facility, while benefits for ESIC beneficiaries and their families would continue uninterrupted. The project is also expected to strengthen medical education and research in the Asansol-Durgapur region.
The proposed transition, however, has raised concerns among casual doctors, contractual staff and Group D employees over their job security.
Welcoming the move, Asansol Chamber of Commerce secretary Shambhunath Jha said the project would fulfil a long-standing demand and improve healthcare, medical education and employment opportunities in the region.