Chandigarh: 50-bed Critical Care Hospital to come up in Manimajra

Chandigarh: In a major boost to the healthcare infrastructure of Chandigarh, a 50-bed critical care hospital will soon be established at Manimajra under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). The much-anticipated facility will be built with a sanctioned budget of ₹24 crore from the Union Government and a 2-acre land allotted by the UT Administration.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had approved the hospital in January 2022 as part of its mission to create resilient and responsive healthcare systems across the country. Speaking to Tribune India, a senior official said, “This initiative is part of the Government of India’s ambitious vision to build resilient health systems and strengthen critical care services across the country.”

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria recently approved the allotment of land in Pocket 14 of Manimajra for the facility. Following this approval, the UT Estate Department earmarked the site—situated along a 200-foot-wide road leading to the IT Park—and handed it over to the Health Department.

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According to Tribune India, “The site has been earmarked for the setting up of a critical care block (50-bedded under PM-ABHIM) as proposed and recommended by the Chief Architect, Department of Urban Planning, Chandigarh Administration,” the Joint Secretary Estates wrote to the Estate Officer, while noting that the ownership of the site shall remain with the Chandigarh Administration and the Health Department will utilise the site for the construction of the critical care block only.

The Manimajra area, which includes densely populated zones such as Mauli Jagran, various rehabilitation colonies, and the IT Park, has long suffered from a lack of secondary and tertiary-level healthcare facilities. Apart from a 100-bed sub-district hospital, residents have limited access to advanced medical services.

A senior official from the Health Department revealed that Rs 23.75 crore has already been sanctioned and that construction is expected to begin shortly.

To bolster India’s public health system and ensure it is well-equipped to handle future pandemics and health emergencies, the Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched as part of the Union Budget 2021-22, announced on February 1, 2021. This mission forms a key component of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package for the health sector, unveiled by the Finance Minister in May 2020.

The primary aim of PM-ABHIM is to bridge critical gaps in health infrastructure, disease surveillance, and health research across both urban and rural regions. It aspires to empower communities to become self-reliant (Atma Nirbhar) in managing public health crises and future pandemics. This initiative marks the largest nationwide investment in public health infrastructure since 2005.

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The total financial outlay for the scheme for the period 2021–22 to 2025–26 is ₹64,180 crore, including costs for Monitoring & Evaluation (ME) and the Programme Management Unit (PMU). Of this, ₹54,204.78 crore is allocated for the implementation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme components, while ₹9,339.78 crore is earmarked for the Central Sector components.

“The project is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the Centre and the UT Administration in enhancing public health services, especially in the wake of lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic. It underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible and quality critical care services at the local level,” said Gulab Chand Kataria, Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator, reports the Tribune.