The long-awaited construction of a new Civil Hospital in Hisar has encountered another obstacle, as the project now awaits the transfer of land to the Health Department despite the site being finalized after nearly two years of deliberations.
Land Allocation and Transfer Hurdles
Department sources revealed that approximately 22 acres belonging to the Government Livestock Farm (GLF), situated opposite the airport on the Delhi Bypass, had been earmarked for the project. However, ownership of the land has yet to be transferred to the department, an official confirmed.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sapna Gahlaut stated that the district administration had submitted the proposal for land transfer to state authorities. "Once the land is transferred, the design and tendering process will begin before construction of the new hospital starts," she said.
Existing Hospital Constraints
The existing Civil Hospital, built in 1957, is struggling to cope with the growing patient load. Expansion or vertical construction is not feasible as the hospital lies near the ASI-protected Hisar Fort, constructed by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1354. Under the ASI Act, construction is prohibited within a 100-meter radius of the monument.
Healthcare Needs and Delays
Social activist Dr. Ramesh Punia highlighted that Hisar has become a major healthcare hub, with over 50 private hospitals serving nearly 25,000 OPD patients daily from Hisar, neighboring districts, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
"Not everybody, especially those visiting from rural areas, can afford treatment in private hospitals. There has already been a delay of several years in setting up a new hospital building. The government spent Rs 7 crore on the repair and maintenance of the old Civil Hospital building earlier this year. About Rs 20 crore has been spent over the past 10 years on construction and maintenance works, but all in vain. Until the capacity of this hospital is increased and a super-speciality hospital and trauma centre are established, patients will continue to suffer and bear the high cost of treatment in private hospitals," he added.
The delay in land transfer is the latest setback for a project that has been in the pipeline for years, leaving residents and activists frustrated. The new hospital is expected to significantly enhance healthcare infrastructure in the region once completed.
