'Not a single brick laid': MP's 100-bed hospital fully functional on 'paper' for 6 years

A hospital sign board can been with nothing else in background, indicating a promise that remains unfulfilled. (AI-generated image used for representational purpose)

INDORE: In a bizarre administrative anomaly that has left the local health department scrambling for answers, a proposed 100-bed civil hospital in Indore's Khajrana area has been fully functioning "on paper" for six years, despite not having a single brick laid, or even a finalized plot of land.Six years ago, Madhya Pradesh state government announced the setting up of a modern civil hospital in Khajrana.While the search for an appropriate site dragged on, the bureaucratic machinery kept moving. The department sanctioned 87 posts for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff specifically for this non-existent facility.Over the years, routine transfers and postings were actively carried out to fill these roles.Currently, around 80 of these assigned employees are working at alternative locations, including PC Sethi Hospital, Hukumchand Hospital, and various local Sanjivani Clinics across the city.Addressing the unusual situation, deputy chief minister Rajendra Shukla clarified the history of the project, stating, "Initially, an urban PHC (Primary Health Centre) operated here, which was upgraded to a 50-bed civil hospital and later planned as a 100-bed facility.

However, construction couldn't begin due to the unavailability of suitable government land. Until the building is constructed, the sanctioned staff has been deployed to other government medical institutions, and the search for land remains underway."The opposition has hit back hard, calling out the government for severe negligence. Former minister Sajjan Singh Verma questioned how appointments and transfers could go on for years for a building that does not exist."We will raise this issue prominently in the upcoming assembly session and demand answers," Verma stated, calling for a high-level investigation.Meanwhile, chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Hasani highlighted the logistical bottlenecks:"Finding a large piece of government land within the city limits is not easy, which delayed construction. We attached the nursing and paramedical staff to Sanjivani Clinics and other hospitals so their skills are put to active use."