Delhi's Greater Kailash Residents Protest Against 400-bed Hospital Construction
Greater Kailash Protests
New Delhi: Residents of Greater Kailash, a prominent residential area in South Delhi, have taken to the streets to voice their strong opposition against the construction of a 400-bed private hospital in their locality. The protest, which garnered widespread local support, highlighted residents' concerns over the potential disruptions the hospital could bring to their daily lives and the existing infrastructure.
The proposed 400-bed hospital, still currently in the early stages of construction, has become a focal point of protests.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that Realty major DLF announced that it has tied up with Global Health Ltd (Medanta) to set up a 400-bed multi-speciality hospital in the national capital. The two companies will have an equal partnership in the new joint venture.
Also Read: Medanta, DLF to set up 400-bed multi-specialty hospital in South Delhi
Former Greater Kailash (GK) MLA and AAP Delhi convener Saurabh Bharadwaj expressed his support for the protest and took to the social media platform X to voice his concerns. Bharadwaj stated that the project had been an ongoing issue for several years, particularly with DLF attempting to build the private hospital in the heart of a residential colony.
He stated that despite continuous opposition from residents and RWAs, the project quietly received approvals during 2021-2022 when the MCD was controlled by the BJP and Shikha Roy was the councillor. These approvals were pushed through without transparency or consultation with RWAs.
Bharadwaj recalled his time as the MLA of GK, when he had made a firm commitment to the residents that he would not allow the construction of the hospital. Reflecting on his tenure, Bharadwaj stated that, under his leadership, DLF never dared to begin the construction, despite the project’s progression at the approval stage.
He said, “Though I am no longer the MLA, I am still with the people, and I will continue to stand by their fight to protect their neighbourhood.”
Speaking to TOI, residents said the proposed hospital would create severe traffic problems on Hans Raj Gupta Marg and surrounding streets, impacting more than 50,000 residents. The development would also strain existing civic facilities, including parking spaces, sewage systems, and emergency response services, they claimed. Despite consistent objections from residents and RWAs, no meaningful public discussion or environmental impact studies were conducted, they said.
Many protesters raised concerns about noise pollution, pointing out that ambulance sirens could become a constant disturbance, disrupting the peace of the area day and night. One of the posters read, "We don't want our peaceful neighbourhood to be ruined by round-the-clock ambulance noise and overcrowding," India TV reports.
Moreover, amid the ongoing protests, several serious allegations have come to light regarding the land where the hospital is being constructed. Local residents have raised concerns, claiming that the land was originally allocated for charitable purposes and, therefore, should not be repurposed for commercial developments like the proposed hospital.
