*Inspects work on Zero, new GPO bridges
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 6: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today inaugurated yet another healthcare facility at Srinagar which is third in a row in as many days.
He inaugurated CT scan, Doppler and other modern facilities at Baramulla District Hospital the other day and on Tuesday he declared open Beerwa Sub-District Hospital while today the Chief Minister dedicated 200-bedded Additional Block at Lal Ded Hospital to the people.
The project estimating over Rs. 40 crore was started in 2008-09 and has been completed in all respects. The civil work involved over Rs. 31 crores, STP Rs. 4.17 crores; central heating system Rs. 1.83 crores, water supply Rs. 1.22 crores and other hospital items Rs. 1.74 crores.
The additional facility at L D Hospital will give boost to healthcare service and cater to the increased treatment needs in the hospital.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister visited various blocks in the hospital, enquired the welfare of patients and ascertained feedback about the treatment being provided to them.
The Chief Minister said that health sector has been flagged as one of the most important sectors, as such, received concentrated attention for improvement, expansion and consolidation during the last over five and a half years. He said attention has been paid to upgrade the medicare facilities at district, sub-district and other hospitals in the rural areas so that pressure in Srinagar hospitals is reduced.
Omar Abdullah said that Sher-i-Kashmir had a great vision for making Jammu and Kashmir a modern State in respect of healthcare facilities. He said the establishment of Lal Ded Hospital and SKIMS was part of this vision of the late leader. He said that Sheikh Abdullah wanted to provide all latest health facilities to the people within the State so that they need not go outside for specialized treatment. He said that the Government is keenly pursuing this goal.
The Chief Minister said that besides creating new infrastructure and modernizing the equipment equal attention is being paid to place qualified doctors and para-medics in the health institutions to make delivery more effective and prompt.
Minister for Health, Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Minister of State for Health and Medical Education, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected rehabilitation work of Zero Bridge Srinagar under execution at a cost of over Rs. 6.41 crores. The length of bridge is 154 metres, the number of spans are nine and carriage way is two-lane. It is being rehabilitated as the heritage bridge of Srinagar city.
Omar Abdullah also took stock of the pace of work on new bridge under construction over River Jehlum connecting Residency Road at GPO to Rajbagh Road near Convent School.
The bridge was started in October 2012 and is estimated to cost Rs. 12.37 crores. The length of the bridge is 118 metres and it has three spans. The bridge is likely to be completed by April 2015.
Legislator Nasir Aslam Wani was accompanying the Chief Minister.
During the last over five and a half years more than a dozen bridges have been constructed in Srinagar and some are under execution. Over 270 bridges have been completed in the State during the same period.
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