India, April 10 -- The state government will build new medical colleges and augment facilities at existing state-run hospitals over the next five years under a Rs.4,281-crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday.

The chief minister held a meeting with officials from the public health department and the medical education department and directed them to verify the need for building separate hospitals attached with upcoming medical colleges, based on population figures and patient footfall. Nishant Jain, health specialist, ADB, participated in the meeting via video conferencing.

During the meeting, officials briefed Fadnavis about projects that will be undertaken with ADB's financia...