Bareilly's Rs 73 Crore Multi-Speciality Hospital Lies Largely Unused for Nearly a Decade
A 300-bed multi-speciality hospital in Bareilly, constructed during the 2016–17 Samajwadi Party government, remains predominantly non-functional nearly ten years after its completion. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 73 crore on the campus of the mental hospital, this facility was envisioned as a major healthcare boost for the Rohilkhand region. Equipped with advanced infrastructure such as modular operation theaters, ICU beds, medical gas pipelines, air-conditioning systems, lifts, and staff quarters, the hospital was initially expected to be fully operational by 2017.
Delays and Limited Functionality
However, significant delays extended the timeline, and the hospital was eventually handed over only in 2022. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it served temporarily as a Level-2 facility with ICU beds and ventilators, providing critical support. Since then, full-scale operations have failed to take off. Currently, only outpatient department (OPD) services are functional, while key facilities including inpatient wards, surgeries, emergency services, and radiology remain largely unused due to severe staff shortages.
Political Criticism and Administrative Response
Samajwadi Party’s former national spokesperson Mayank Shukla has alleged that the hospital’s non-functional status reflects administrative failure. He claimed that a fully built facility has not been effectively utilized and asserted it could have significantly improved healthcare services in the Bareilly division. Meanwhile, chief medical officer (CMO) Vishram Singh stated that a proposal for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has been submitted. Under this plan, the infrastructure may be handed over to a private operator for management and upgradation, pending government action.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges in healthcare infrastructure development in Uttar Pradesh, with calls for urgent measures to operationalize the hospital and address regional healthcare needs.
