Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital to soon get 362-bed trauma centre at cost of Rs 117.78 crore

New Delhi: Delhi will get a 362-bed trauma centre at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Mangolpuri by May 31 as the Public Works Department (PWD) is finishing the last leg of work at the medical facility, officials said. According to officials, this will be the biggest trauma centre among Delhi government hospitals.

The hospital has missed multiple deadlines, however, the officials said that the PWD will finish the work by May 31.

"The construction work has been completed. We are finishing the electrical fittings and last-minute work. The hospital will be completed by May and will be handed over to the health department," an official said.

The hospital currently has 300 beds.

The official said that the hospital was supposed to be completed in 2021 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction work was delayed. Then the deadline was pushed to 2022.

"Only a few months after the construction started, we were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and workers left. Even after the restrictions were lifted, there were delays caused due to the curbs implemented under GRAP to control pollution in Delhi. Now that the construction work is complete, we do not anticipate further delays in finishing the minor works," the official added.

The trauma centre and utility block at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital have been built at a cost of Rs 117.78 crore. The centre will have 362 beds, including 39 ICU beds. It also has six modular operation theatres.

Last year, during a surprise inspection, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had flagged the slow pace of construction of the trauma centre.

The minister had emphasised that the new trauma centre, once built, will benefit people in and around the area.

Due to the scarcity of trauma centres in Delhi, people often have to transport patients to distant facilities after an accident, resulting in treatment delays and higher chances of fatalities, Bharadwaj had said.