Super specialty block for Darbhanga medical college may be ready by Sept 30

The 210-bed specialised treatment facilities on DMCH campus started in December 2016, with an 18-month deadline for its completion. Many deadlines have been missed and reset since. According to available information, 81.16% civil work has been completed so far

The construction of Super Specialty Block (SSB), attached to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) is likely to be finished by September 30, as per the revised timeline posted on Prime Minister Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) dashboard.

Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital. (HT archive)

The project is being executed with the Centre and state governments allocating ₹120 crore and ₹30 crore respectively.

The 210-bed specialised treatment facilities on DMCH campus started in December 2016, with an 18-month deadline for its completion. Many deadlines have been missed and reset since. According to available information, 81.16% civil work has been completed so far.

“The construction had hit too many roadblocks...As of now, we have reached final stage of completion as far as civil work is concerned,” said Prabhash Vaish, chief project manager of HLL Infratech Services Ltd, engaged in construction work.

He said the remaining civil work requires specialised manpower. Covid-19 pandemic has also put a spanner in the works, he said.

Of the total budget, ₹100 crore was to be spent on construction of the building while ₹50 crore was earmarked for installation of equipment.

The SSB will include eight specialised departments: nephrology, cardiology, cardio thoracic and vascular surgery (CTVS), neurology, neurosurgery, gastroenterology and hepatology, neonatology, burn, plastic and reconstruction surgery with 20 beds each and 40 ICU besides 10 dialysis beds and 16 OTs. The ground floor plus five storey building will cover total over 34,000 sq mt.

DMCH principal Dr K N Mishra candidly said a lot of work remains to be done to start hospital’s functioning. “We want everything in place to ensure functioning of hospital as soon as possible,” he said.