New Delhi, Jun 5 (IANS): The government will redevelop the capital's Safdarjang Hospital at a cost of Rs.1,332 crore, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said here Tuesday.

The approval was given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in a meeting held here.

"The estimated cost of Rs.1,332 crore is inclusive of Rs.165 crore towards expenses on operations for the first one year," Chidambaram told reporters.

The approval for Phase-I of the redevelopment of Safdarjung Hospital comprises the establishment of two separate building blocks with aa 807-bed super-specialty-cum-paid ward block and a 500-bed emergency block. Both blocks would have Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

The super specialty-cum-ward block will cater only to cardio-vascular thoracic science, cardiology, cardiac surgery, endocrinology, neurosurgery, nephrology and neurology. This block will have its own diagnostic and investigation facilities, some of which are proposed to be provided through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

The emergency block will cater primarily to orthopedics, neurosurgery and general surgery. It will also cater to emergency cases. It is proposed that diagnostic and investigation facilities will be provided by the hospital directly.

Safdarjang Hospital is a 1,600 bed multi-specialty hospital, one of the largest government hospitals in India.

Until the inception of All India Institute of Medical Science in 1956, Safdarjung Hospital was the only tertiary care hospital in South Delhi.