Srinagar, Nov 08: The Jammu and Kashmir government has cleared hurdles for Kashmir’s earthquake-resistant hospital project, an additional block at LD Maternity Hospital, where the work will be started eight years after its foundation stone was laid, officials said.
The work on the project was started in 2016. However, the project took an ugly turn after the Lieutenant Governor administration’s decision to dissolve the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) which had constructed its plinth.
Later, as per officials, the responsibility was shifted to Roads and Building Department for the construction of the additional block of LD hospital delaying the project further.
Officials said a number of meetings were held with the Health and Medical Education Department, GMC Srinagar, Roads and Building Department and other concerned stakeholders.
The 130-bed extension to the valley’s largest maternity LD Hospital, a project funded by the World Bank under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), remained unresolved for nearly eight years pushing the project further.
Chief Engineer, R&B Division-II, Sayam Naquib, said that the construction work will soon be put out for tender, as all the bottlenecks have been successfully cleared after an extensive and complex process. He emphasized that significant efforts were made to streamline the project, ensuring it is now ready for swift action and progress.
An official informed that now the project of the World Bank has been extended up to one and half year and within this time the project is expected to be completed on a fast track basis.
“Earlier, the department invited bid and no one participated in that as the date of completion was kept as December 2024 which was impossible as the project was huge,” the official said.
Officials added that, given the valley’s location in seismic Zone V, the building was designed to be the region’s first uniquely earthquake-resistant medical facility.
The project was aimed to add on to LD Hospital’s capacity from 700 to 900 beds, however the delay caused severe space crunch pushing it further to the huge crowds.
“Earlier, it was meant for gynaecology oncology patients. Now it has been decided to construct 130 beds for gynecology patients owing to scarcity of beds,” said a doctor at LD.
“Had the project been completed on time, it would have significantly strengthened maternity services in the valley. Unfortunately, it remained just a foundation stone. As the valley’s largest maternity hospital, there is a constant need for upgrades to meet growing demands,” he said.
