India, May 14 -- In its efforts to strengthen diagnostic and research capabilities in the state, the Maharashtra public health department is all set to establish the Maharashtra Institute of Virology (MIV), along the lines of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, officials in the know within the state government shared on Tuesday. With an initial budget of Rs.38 crore, this will the state's first such lab in the city.

An official from the health department, who was a part of the team involved in conceptualising the project, said MIV will be set up either by expanding the government's existing diagnostic laboratory in Camp or by developing a new facility within the campus of Aundh District Hospital. In either case, the institute...