Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 27: Progress on the construction of a 200-bed block at Kashmir’s Lal Ded Maternity Hospital, funded by the World Bank, has come to a halt for the past four years due to a design change with officials awaiting approval from the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) to issue a fresh tender.
The ambitious project, intended to boost the hospital’s capacity from 500 to 900 beds, was approved in 2017 under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP). This state-of-the-art, earthquake-resistant multi-story building, utilising base isolation technology, is a groundbreaking endeavour in a region categorised as seismic zone V. The project is one of only three such projects in India, with the Kashmir initiative being the largest.
Officials privy to the details told Excelsior that nearly 97 percent of the foundation work is complete, but changes in the design have halted the project. “The next step was to set up the base isolation, but a change in design has led to cost escalation, which is beyond the financial guidelines. This forced us to go for retendering,” an official working with the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited told Excelsior.
He added that the retendering process is underway and they are awaiting approval from JTFRP. Once approved, they will issue global tenders. “The floods made a difference in the design parameters, requiring a larger bearing for the base isolators,” he said.
He mentioned that the last tenders for the base isolators were awarded to the New Zealand-based company Robinson Seismic Company, and new global tenders for the installation and design of base isolators will be issued once JTFRP approves the variations.
Officials stated that the building also faced initial delays due to a lack of communication between the executing agency, Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC), and Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, as well as changes in the location by successive principals, which further delayed the project.
When completed, this facility will stand as the first of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir, a six-story building offering a comprehensive array of amenities, including state-of-the-art operation theatres, well-equipped labour rooms, general wards, an auditorium, a library, and top-tier post-operative care.
Yet, until the bureaucratic tangle is unravelled, the dream of an expanded and enhanced maternity hospital for Kashmiri residents remains frustratingly out of reach.
Several patients informed Excelsior that the hospitals were overburdened and urgently required infrastructural upgrades. They pointed out that this hospital was the only maternity hospital in the Valley, serving patients from across the region, and the current infrastructure was inadequate.
“If we talk about the labour room, there are two to three patients in a single bed, causing great inconvenience to the patients. We cannot blame the hospital administration for this, as they have no other option,” a patient said.
She added that expectant mothers needed extra care, but the lack of space at the hospital made it extremely challenging for them during an already testing time. “The government has placed the best doctors here who treat patients really well, but the lack of space and other facilities forces patients to seek care at private hospitals that charge exorbitant fees. I hope the government understands this and takes measures to upgrade the infrastructure,” she said.
Medical Superintendent of LD Hospital, Muzaffar Sherwani, stated that the new building would hold great significance, as it would not only provide much-needed infrastructure but also significantly enhance patient care. “It will be of great help, especially for those patients who require additional maternal or childcare services, as a whole unit for investigative procedures will be set up along with a high-end labour room,” he explained.
He added that the building would be constructed using modern technology, allowing it to withstand earthquakes of up to a magnitude of 10, which is crucial due to the Valley’s high seismic activity.
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