Foundation stone to nowhere

Srinagar, Nov 3: In what stands as a stark example of bureaucratic paralysis, Kashmir’s pioneering earthquake-resistant hospital project has failed to progress beyond its foundation stone, seven years after its initial announcement.

The 130-bed extension to LD Hospital, despite World Bank funding, remains trapped in administrative quicksand.

“The only movement we've seen on this project is scaling down from the originally planned 200-bed specialised gynaecology-oncology facility to a 130-bed general wing. Beyond this reduction in scope, there has been absolutely no progress on civil works or any other development,” revealed a senior Health Department official, speaking anonymously.

The project's trajectory took a complicated turn following the Lieutenant Governor administration's decision to dissolve the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC).

Responsibility has now shifted to the Roads and Building Department for the construction of an additional block of LD hospital, adding another layer of complexity to an already delayed initiative.

The building's significance extends beyond mere capacity expansion.

Situated in seismic Zone V, it was designed to be Kashmir's first earthquake-resistant medical facility, featuring cutting-edge base isolation technology.

“This project is one of only three such initiatives in India, and notably the largest,” explained a senior R&B official.

Technical hurdles have marked the project's journey.

“JKPCC encountered significant challenges with design complexities, necessitating the involvement of an international firm,” the R&B official said. “Just as progress seemed imminent, JKPCC's dissolution created new uncertainties.”

The stagnation has serious implications for regional healthcare.

Originally intended to boost LD Hospital's capacity from 700 to 900 beds, the delay has created a severe space crunch.

“It's a stark reality that while a 700-bed hospital could have been constructed elsewhere in the world during these seven years, here in Kashmir, this additional block remains just a foundation stone. For a tertiary maternal care facility like ours, infrastructure upgrades are crucial. Yet, unfortunately, we have seen no progress,” said a senior doctor at LD Hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity.