Plagued by delays, Ambala hospital project gets new prescription

After remaining at a standstill for two years, the construction work of the extension building of the Ambala Cantonment Civil Hospital is expected to resume this month. A new contractor has been finalised, and will get 18 months to complete the remaining civil work of the building.

A few years ago, the hospital was upgraded to a 200-bed facility, resulting in a heavy footfall of patients.

To decongest the hospital, a proposal for the much-needed extension building was approved at a cost of Rs 77.44 crore. The construction began in August 2019.

The work was to be completed in two years. However, even after missing deadlines several times, only about 25 per cent of the work was completed by the agency concerned.

Following delays in the project, a penalty was imposed by the Public Works Department-Buildings and Roads [PWD (B&R)] on the construction agency, following which the agency went for arbitration to challenge the penalty. During this ordeal, the work was stopped and momentarily resumed several times, coming to a complete standstill two years ago.

Currently, an incomplete structure stands on the premises of the hospital — with construction material lying about near the site. The building gets waterlogged during the rains, adding to the troubles of health authorities.

Now, after getting the approval from the Chief Minister’s office, the PWD (B&R) has started the process of allotting the tender to the new agency. A critical care block and a parking space are proposed to be constructed at the new building.

“The project has missed its deadlines several times due to a delay on the part of the construction agency. Following a dispute, the agreement of the previous agency was cancelled, and a fresh tender for the remaining work was floated at a cost of Rs 17 crore. An agency has been finalised, and the allotment process is underway at the headquarter level. After allotment, the agency will get 21 days to begin work,” said an official of the PWD (B&R). “About 75 per cent of the civic work is pending, and the agency will get a period of 18 months to complete it. The tender for electrical work has already been allotted, and both works will be carried out simultaneously. All efforts are being made to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe,” the official added.

Deputy Medical Superintendent Vinay Goel, the Nodal Officer for the project, said, “The extension building will help decongest the existing hospital premises. Once the building is ready, a restructuring of the hospital will be done. It will be beneficial for both patients and the hospital staff.”

Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij, during whose term as Health Minister the hospital was upgraded, said, “The project was approved to provide more healthcare facilities at the hospital. We are in constant touch with the officials concerned. The work is expected to begin soon.”

The minister has also sought the upgrade of the laboratory at the hospital — for which a letter has been sent to Health Minister Arti Singh Rao.

Vij said, “Earlier, less than 300 patients visited the hospital OPD daily. However, after it was upgraded, footfall increased to more than 3,000 a day. Nearly 1,500 tests are conducted daily at the hospital laboratory. To ensure that maximum tests are performed and reports are available on the same day, the laboratory needs to be upgraded, for which a letter has been sent.”

Last month, he had requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to transfer defence land to the state government for the expansion of the hospital.

Haryana Tribune