2 hospitals, same story: Proposed over 10 years ago but not yet ready

These directions were issued  while reviewing progress of schemes and projects announced in the 2014 Delhi’s Budget. The report, submitted to the Delhi government, is expected to be forwarded to the L-G, sources said.

Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, spread over 13 acres, has been in the works since 1998 and has only been made partially operational till date. Construction was supposed to start in 2002 and end by 2004. “To begin with, there were issues with the contractor. Thereafter, the Health department decided that the remaining work on the hospital will be done through PPP mode in 2009. But in 2011, it was decided that the government should only carry out the work. Moreover, there was lack of proper co-ordination between PWD and health department on this project,” a source said.

“Multi-agency clearances has been seen as the main reason for the delay in the projects… This not only leads to cost escalations but also leads to non-availability of an essential infrastructure requirement because of such issue,” an official said.

Further, the report stated the reasons for the 17-year delay in work to be awarded for construction of the Indira Gandhi Hospital, as 10 years were spent in getting the required approvals — from the period of conception of the project in 1997 to awarding work in 2014.

“Land for this project was handed over in 1997 by DDA. Building plans for the 500-bed hospital were submitted to DDA in 2001 which was approved by DDA only in 2008 due to various issues,” the official said.

Thereafter, approvals from airport and fire authorities, DUAC and environment clearance were received between October and December 2009.
Work for Indira Gandhi Hospital was awarded last week and is likely to begin by September.

“The project will be completed in 2017. The hospital will be constructed on a plot of 60,000 sqm and a part of the plot would be reserved for a medical college in future,” the official said.

In 2008, former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had laid the foundation stone of the hospital, which now lies broken. Tenders were also floated for the hospital after it was conceptualised, but later cancelled.