Nagpur: GMCH Cancer hospital's construction put on hold for lack of budget

Nagpur: The construction of a cancer hospital in GMCH Nagpur has been halted by the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) after the medical education department failed to provide the initial funds of Rs20 crore.  

The then central government approved the proposal to establish this cancer hospital in 2012. In 2017, the court directed the hospital to be set up within two years. In 2019, The government gave administrative approval of Rs 76 crore for construction and Rs 23 crore for equipment purchase. The responsibility for construction was given to Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA).

NMRDA invited tenders and sought Rs 20 crore from the medical education department for the first phase in 2021 and the project has been stopped by NMRDA as no funds were sanctioned despite repeated requests and reminders.

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NMRDA's superintending engineer Leena Upadhyay told TOI, "The project is no more viable. We sought funds from the state government for three years to start the construction of a cancer hospital in GMCH Nagpur. The state had given us a written guarantee of funds, after which we floated tenders for construction. But no funds were allotted even after the tender process was completed. We have informed the department concerned that NMRDA cannot continue work on this project."

In response to the allegation, a senior official from the department of medical education and research said, "NMRDA has informed us that they are not able to continue this project for different reasons. The department will complete it through a different nodal agency in the future."

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The construction of the 110-bedded hospital in Vidarbha was taken into consideration after the cancer patients raised their voices and protested demanding a dedicated cancer hospital on the GMCH campus.

The three-floor building was supposed to have radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology and paediatric oncology outpatient departments (OPDs) and a daycare centre was planned on the first floor. The surgical and medical intensive care units and four operation theatres were planned on the second floor, and the general ward, medicine ward and surgical wards on the third floor.