Plans to construct a new building for the District MMG (Mukundlal Municipal Government) Hospital have gathered pace, with health department officials expediting the process after repeated concerns over the safety of the existing facility.

Built in 1956 with support from philanthropists, the current hospital building has long been in a dilapidated state and was declared unsafe by the PWD five years ago. Despite repeated warnings, OPD and other services have continued in the old structure, raising safety concerns. Recently, rains led to severe roof leakage, forcing the complete evacuation of the 30-bed women’s surgical ward. Officials fear the building could collapse at any time.

ALSO READ: Dehradun: 61 Children Missing In Six Weeks, Majority Girls Aged 10-17; District On Alert As Cases Rise

According to CMS, Dr Rakesh Kumar Singh, the blueprint for the new building has been prepared and released. The construction, likely to be carried out by the PWD, will take place on the one-acre plot where a TB hospital building currently stands. The old structure is set to be demolished, with the tender process for demolition already initiated. An oxygen plant at the site will also be relocated.

The proposed seven-storey hospital will be built for Rs 80 crore and will accommodate 200 beds. It will include an ICU facility and a double basement with underground parking for up to 400 vehicles. The main entrance will face the Dudheshwarnath temple, while the existing two gates will remain functional.

Officials assured that OPD and emergency services would continue alongside the construction of the new hospital. In case of need, patient admissions in unsafe wings may be halted. Once the main hospital building is complete, residences for doctors and healthcare staff will also be constructed on the campus.

ALSO READ: Diwali- Chhath Special Trains: Railways Launches Festival Special Train From Varanasi To Janghai; Check Schedule, Stations

Currently, MMG Hospital handles more than 3,000 OPD patients daily, with over 300 arriving at the emergency ward. More than 100 medico-legal cases are processed every day, while over 100 patients are admitted at any given time. The dengue ward and ICU often accommodate both patients and their attendants.

The new building, expected to be completed within one and a half years, is seen as a major step towards strengthening health infrastructure in Ghaziabad and improving facilities for lakhs of residents.