Pandharpur: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Wednesday the Maharashtra government's plan to establish a 1000-bed hospital in Pandharpur, a renowned temple town.

Shinde said the new hospital will ensure that there was no shortage of health facilities for the millions of pilgrims coming here every year.

According to a UNI report, Shinde during the day performed puja here on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi and prayed to Lord Vitthala for the prosperity of one and all.

The Chief Minister said Rs 73.80 crore has been sanctioned for the conservation of Vitthal Rukmini Temple.

He said the district administration and the temple committee have prepared a Rs 103-crore worth plan to implement darshan mandap and token darshan method in Vitthal Rukmini temple on the lines of Tirupati Balaji temple, news agency UNI reported.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that a new government cancer hospital will soon be established at Sassoon Hospital in Pune, Hasan Mushrif, the minister of Medical Education said. The clearance for the construction of the cancer hospital in the Sasoon Hospital premises is in the final stage, he said.

The minister was replying to a question raised by Bhimrao Tapkir about Sassoon Hospital. Mushrif said doctors who perform bariatric surgery have been made available in Sassoon Hospital. The number of doctors is sufficient for the treatment of newborns and the number of beds in the intensive care unit will be increased. An inspection tour of the hospital will be organised with a meeting of all the public representatives of Pune city regarding the facilities and current situation.