Varanasi's Shiv Prasad Gupta Hospital Set for Major Overhaul into 500-Bed Super-Specialty Facility
VARANASI: In a significant healthcare development, the phase-wise demolition of existing structures at the Shiv Prasad Gupta Divisional Hospital in Varanasi is slated to commence in mid-May. This move paves the way for the construction of a state-of-the-art 500-bed multi super-specialty hospital, aimed at bolstering medical services for the region's populace.
Project Overview and Stakeholder Consensus
Recently, a crucial meeting was convened in Lucknow to discuss the proposed hospital's construction. Attendees included stakeholders, representatives from the consultant agency Mothers Pride Infrastructure Private Limited, engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), and various technical experts. Officials reported that intensive deliberations focused on addressing challenges related to the demolition and reconstruction process.
A key outcome was the verbal consensus reached among all participants regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval. Collective agreement was given to implement necessary measures for EIA compliance, ensuring adherence to environmental protection rules. This includes managing air, water, noise, and waste to prevent any adverse impacts on surrounding areas.
Tendering and Demolition Timeline
The PWD has already initiated the tendering process for the construction, with executive engineer (building) Pushp Raj Singh indicating that it is expected to conclude by April 15. Following this, the successful bidder's team will conduct a site inspection to plan the demolition and construction phases. The phase-wise demolition is projected to take approximately one month to complete.
To ensure uninterrupted hospital services, facilities will be relocated to other portions of the site before demolition begins on identified areas. This strategic approach aims to maintain functionality throughout the transition period.
Financial and Structural Details
The project received final cabinet approval in January, with a total investment of Rs 351.48 crore allocated over four years. The development will cover an area of 83,000 square feet, with funding split as 60% from the Central government and the remaining 40% from the state government.
Singh outlined that the work will be executed in three distinct phases:
- First Phase: Construction will begin on half of the demolished portion, featuring an admission building, lab building, indoor patient department (IPD), and a building housing a dialysis unit, operation theatre, ICU, OPD, and emergency services.
- Second Phase: This phase will involve building structures for a kitchen, IPD short ward, IPD private ward, all OPDs including a prisoners ward, OPD registration, and administrative offices.
- Third Phase: The final stage will focus on landscaping the front portion of the project area.
The hospital building will be designed as ground plus eight storeys with two basements, while a separate ground plus 12-storey building will be constructed for residential purposes.
Current Hospital Load and Future Impact
Currently, the Shiv Prasad Gupta Hospital serves a critical role, bearing the patient load primarily from Varanasi's old city area and adjoining districts. Hospital authorities report that on average, 2,175 patients are registered in the OPD each working day, with 60 patients admitted to the IPD, which has 316 beds available.
This upgrade is expected to significantly enhance healthcare capacity and quality, addressing the growing medical needs of the region and providing advanced super-specialty services to a broader population.
