Patients suffer as inordinate delay hits handover of Bone and Joint Hospital building

Srinagar, Jan 30: Over a month past its promised operational date, the newly constructed Bone and Joint Hospital building at Barzulla, , a Rs 116 crore World Bank-funded project remains unused, exacerbating overcrowding and patient care challenges at the existing facility.

Despite assurances from officials, that the state-of-the-art hospital would be handed over by December 15, 2024, bureaucratic delays and unresolved logistical issues have left the critical healthcare project in limbo.

The Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, responsible for executing the project, claims the building is "ready for handover," but claims Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has sought modifications for additional equipment which is acting as the primary holdup. R&B Chief Engineer Sajad Naqeeb stated, “The building is complete, but GMC requested further changes to accommodate new equipment, which has not yet arrived. It is expected in the next 10 days.”

However, a GMC administrator contested this narrative stating that the turnkey project—where the contractor oversees all aspects until completion—has not been formally transferred to the hospital authorities. “We are yet to take possession. Until then, we cannot commence operations,” the administrator said, emphasising procedural delays.

Principal GMC Srinagar Prof Iffat Hassan Shah did not respond to query by Greater Kashmir.

The delay compounds years of strain on the existing hospital, damaged in the 2014 floods and further ravaged by a fire in 2022. Doctors report severe overcrowding, with 60 patients often crammed into wards designed for 40. “Patient care is compromised daily due to inadequate space and resources,” a senior doctor told Greater Kashmir. The new facility, equipped with modular operation theaters, advanced waste management systems, and a pneumatic transit system, was designed to alleviate these pressures and upgrade the facilities at Kashmir’s sole orthopedic trauma center.

Patients and staff have for long urged the authorities to prioritize the handover. “Every day of delay risks lives as the old building has been declared unsafe after floods of 2014. This hospital is vital for Kashmir and Chenab Valley,” a resident said.