NEW DELHI: Constructions to upgrade medical infrastructure in the national capital and neighboring areas have seen a rise.
According to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, “Massive constructions are going on in medical colleges and hospitals in Delhi and its neighboring areas to improve and upgrade infrastructure.”
The minister said this while inaugurating a state-of-the- art convergence block and a free pharmacy store for the OPD patients in the AIIMS campus, just before the Model Code of Conduct came into force.
“Among the four big hospitals in Delhi, apart from AIIMS, huge construction work is going on currently at the Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital (LHMC) campus, and work will soon begin on projects at Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospital,” he said.
“At LHMC, while one block has been inaugurated, and other blocks currently being built should be ready in next two-three months. At Safdarjung, a state-of-the-art, multi-storeyed 1,300-bed building with several operation theatres, is proposed on six-seven acres of land. At RML also, we are looking to expand the capacity,” he added.
The AIIMS’s convergence block, which has come up in a span of 1.5 years, and is a 12-storied complex including two floors of basement, now stands as the tallest building on the campus.
It has been built at a cost of over Rs 50 crore.
“The building will house teaching blocks, laboratories, lecture theatres, research centers, among other facilities.
Built with a central AC facility and power back-up system, it is a state-of-the-art amenity. It also has a public address system,” Azad said.
On other AIIMS campuses coming up, he said, “The Haryana government has allocated 300 acres of land in Jhajjhar for second AIIMS-Delhi campus. On the 6 new AIIMS campuses coming up in the last 3-4 years, construction work has started,” he said.
About AIIMS Delhi campus, the minister informed about new hostel blocks and dining halls planned for it. Surgical blocks have also been planned at Masjid Moth area. -PTI
