By: Zehra Shafi
Srinagar: The DRDO’s 500-bedded Covid-19 hospital will come up in central Kashmir’s Budgam district in over a month and will have 125 beds as intensive care units, besides 50 double room accommodation facility for doctors and paramedics staff to meet the emerging coronavirus situation in the Union Territory.
Spread over 72 kanals of land, the work on DRDO’s 500- bedded Covid hospital has been started in Reshipora village of Budgam district and the project is to be completed within 35 days time, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole said.
Pole, who visited the project site today to take stock of ongoing construction work, said the hospital shall have facility of 125 beds as intensive care units and rest of the beds shall have oxygen supply facility.
He said the construction shall also include 50 double room accommodation facility for doctors and paramedics staff.
“Being constructed on 72 kanals of land, the earthwork on the approach road has been completed while as tree felling is also going on in full swing,” the official spokesperson said.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the officers to ensure supply of electricity and water facility on war footing, besides developments of approach and interior roads with metal work and construction of four culverts within a week’s time. He further added that Pole also emphasised on carrying out the ground levelling work and extracting of tree routes before Monday.
“He exhorted upon speedy mettle work and back topping of service, approach and interior roads is also carried out by the concerned department. Health authorities were directed to ensure timely deployment of doctors as well as paramedical staff for smooth functioning of the hospital to ensure better Healthcare facilities to the covid patients,” the official spokesperson said.
Pole was apprised that the hospital shall be constructed with pre-engineered thermal insulated material having life of more than 25 years. DRDO team informed that the material and piling work shall be started by Monday and the project, having the facility of sufficient oxygen store shall be completed in time.
Speaking to media, Pole announced that the coming up facility shall be turned into a full-fledged hospital after the coronavirus pandemic ends.
He said there was sufficient supply of oxygen available at all hospitals as audit is being conducted to check out if the oxygen supply is going smoothly and if there is no leakage or misuse of the same.
Pole was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Mirza, CE PWD, CE PHE, divisional heads or various departments, a team of DRDO headed by Additional CE, (Scientist- E) Ravindra Kumar. ADC Budgam, Tehsildar Budgam, DD Health Services Kashmir and other officials.
