India, March 25 -- The state government has expanded its high-level panel on granting autonomy to government medical colleges and hospitals to include BJ Medical College in Pune, Minister of State for Medical Education Madhuri Misal said on Tuesday.

The move revives long-pending demands for autonomous status for the Pune-based institution and could pave the way for administrative and structural reforms.

"After Mumbai and Nagpur, BJ Medical College in Pune has now been included. A decision on autonomy will be taken based on the committee's report," Misal said.

The panel was established at the direction of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to examine autonomy for key state-run institutions in Mumbai and Nagpur.

According to a government ...