The Orissa High Court has issued a firm directive to the state government, pushing for the swift introduction of battery-operated passenger vehicles at Cuttack's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post-Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP), popularly known as Sishu Bhawan. The court emphasized the urgent need to enhance mobility for patients and their attendants across the vast hospital campus.
Court Monitors Compliance on Patient Mobility
A bench comprising Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh reviewed the compliance with its earlier order from October 16. The court had initially raised concerns over the movement challenges faced by patients and their families following the operationalization of a new gate on the hospital's southern side. During that hearing, Sishu Bhawan superintendent Pravakar Mishra had assured the court that battery-operated vehicles would be procured to facilitate the movement of infants, toddlers, differently-abled patients, and caregivers between various departments.
Hospital Seeks CSR Support for Eco-Friendly Transport
During the subsequent hearing on November 27, the state counsel presented letters written by Superintendent Mishra on November 22. These letters were addressed to two major public sector undertakings, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) and National Aluminium Company (Nalco), requesting support under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. The hospital has asked for six eight-seater battery-operated passenger vehicles.
In his communication, Mishra highlighted the massive patient load at the premier paediatric institute, which has 846 sanctioned beds. The facility includes extensive units for ICU, newborn care, paediatric surgery, nephrology, infectious diseases, and emergency medicine. It also runs MD (Paediatrics) and MCh (Paediatric Surgery) programmes affiliated with SCB Medical College.
The letters underscored that the introduction of eco-friendly vehicles would significantly ease movement across the hospital campus. This initiative is expected to greatly benefit children with limited mobility and help manage the high daily patient footfall more efficiently.
Tender Process and Next Steps
The court also took note of another communication dated November 21, in which the superintendent sought permission from the director of medical education and training (DMET) to float a tender for at least two battery-operated vehicles. The estimated monthly cost for operating each vehicle, which includes a driver and maintenance through a third-party provider, was pegged at Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
Senior advocate Manoj Kumar Mishra, representing Nalco, and advocate Rakesh Sharma, appearing for MCL, informed the court that they would seek instructions from their respective organisations regarding the provision of CSR support for the vehicles.
The court has formally recorded both letters and directed Superintendent Mishra to report any response received from MCL and Nalco by the next hearing date. The state government was also instructed to update the court on the status of the tender process. The matter has been scheduled for its next hearing on January 8, 2026.
