Andhra Medical College Students Face Hostel Crisis, Many Forced to Rent Outside

Accommodation continues to be a pressing issue at Andhra Medical College (AMC), one of the oldest medical institutions in the country. Despite a steady rise in student intake, hostel facilities remain insufficient, compelling many students to rent accommodations around King George Hospital (KGH).

The hostels, constructed decades ago, have not been modernized to accommodate the increasing number of medical students. “The existing hostels are in terrible condition. The rooms are cramped, and the facilities are outdated. It’s difficult to focus on studies when the living conditions are so poor,” said a second-year MBBS student, requesting anonymity.

Currently, AMC admits 250 MBBS students annually, who stay for five years, requiring about 1,250 hostel seats. Additionally, there are 318 postgraduate seats and 50 super-specialty seats, leading to a total of 2,354 students pursuing medicine at AMC each year. Of these, at least 2,000 students require hostel accommodation.

At present, AMC’s hostels can house just 600 students. There is one hostel each for undergraduate women and postgraduate students, and one for undergraduate men at the Pandimetta sports ground. “We are left with no choice but to rent rooms outside, often at high costs. Some of us have to travel long distances, making it hard to attend early morning classes or late-night duties at KGH,” said a third-year student, echoing the frustrations of many of his peers.

To address the issue, two hostel projects were sanctioned in 2023 with central funds totaling Rs 73.92 crore. However, progress has been sluggish. As of now, only Rs 15.37 crore of construction has been completed, with Rs 5.70 crore in pending dues. Officials attribute the delays to diversion of funds during the tenure of the previous YSR Congress government.

An official from AMC, speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted, “The delay in the hostel construction projects is a serious concern. The sanctioned funds were diverted for other purposes, and this has slowed down the progress significantly.”

The ongoing projects include an eight-floor hostel for undergraduate, postgraduate, and internship boys with 228 rooms, which is expected to house around 570 students. Another 140-room facility is under construction for senior residents and super-specialty women students, adding accommodation for 140 more. Together, these hostels will provide space for 710 students.

Despite these efforts, officials admit that the shortfall will remain significant. “We need at least two more hostels to meet the growing accommodation demands of our students. We are continuously in talks with the government for additional funds to address this issue,” said Dr K.V.S.M. Sandhya Devi, Principal of Andhra Medical College.

Even with the new hostels, the college will still be unable to meet the accommodation requirements of the increasing number of students. “This issue has been going on for years, and students continue to face hardships. We hope the government takes more immediate steps to solve this crisis,” said a senior faculty member at the college.