Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Jul 10: Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim on Thursday July 10 said that the work on the new block of the Lady Goschen hospital will get over by December this year and it will be opened for public from January 15, 2015.
He was speaking to the media after inspecting the progress in the construction of the new block at the hospital premises here on Thursday.
"The new block of the hospital is spread on an area of 10,000 sq ft. Since March 18, 2013 when the foundation stone was laid, work has gone on continuously. Still, when it comes to deadline we are one-and-a-half months behind schedule. All arrangements have been made to complete the pending works by December 2014 and to open the bock to the public by January 15, 2015," the DC said.
"Majority of the construction work is over and tender has been called for fitting AC and gas pipeline," he added.
"The basement will be reserved for parking while the ground floor will house the outpatient department. The office will be situated on the second floor while the labour ICU will be on the third floor. The fourth floor will have the operation theatre which will enable 20 deliveries simultaneously. Once the project is completed, this will be the best maternity hospital outside Bangalore," he said.
P P Upadhyaya, MD of MRPL which has contributed a sum of Rs 21.74 crore to the new block under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity, appreciated the work of the DC in ensuring the speedy completion of the work.
"It is only because of the constant follow-ups by the DC that the work gained momentum and progressed. He has been conducting meetings every 21 days and I hope he will continue with the same till its completion," he said.
"In the previous years, the money reserved by the MRPL for CSR activity was utilized for construction of roads and other small projects and not for the benefit of the masses. But now, as the company has given a big sum to the new block, I wish the people of Mangalore will be benefitted to a larger extent," he added.
On behalf of Lady Goschen hospital, the DC felicitated the Upadhayaya, who will be retiring from service next month, for his initiative in funding the project.
District health officer Dr Shivkumar, Dr Shakuntala and others were present.
Prior to the DC's visit, minor chaos erupted at the spot with the contractor of the project claiming that the cheque given by the government three months ago had bounced. Superintendent of the hospital Dr Shakuntala asked the contractor to move out of the premises and speak to the DC, and when the DC came, she said the matter will be discussed later.