Expedite work of AIIMS satellite centre at Balasore: Union minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi

BHUBANESWAR: Union minister of state for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi has urged Union health minister Harsh Vardhan to expedite the infrastructure works of AIIMS Bhubaneswar's satellite centre at Balasore.
The satellite centre came into being in the year 2016. One day OPD had been held since 2017 in the presence of AIIMS Bhubaneswar doctors on each Saturday at a venue provided by the defence research and development organisation (DRDO) at Balasore.This OPD is stopped since the outbreak of Covid-19.
He also drew the attention of the Union health minister over continued delay in full-fledged functioning of the satellite centre. "The civil construction work of the satellite centre is moving at snail's pace. The OPD block and the staff accommodation blocks are yet to be completed. There has been considerable delay and adhocism in the implementation of this prestigious project and the primary reason, as I understand, is the absence of earmarked funding," he added.
Sarangi has requested Union health minister to personally intervene into the matter and sanction 'Special Fund' for Balasore satellite centre of AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Harsh Vardhan while replying to a letter of Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka has recently stated that detailed project report (DPR) of phase-II construction of AIIMS Bhubaneswar's satellite centre at Balasore will be finalized soon.
Under Phase-I of the project, Rs 35.76 crore have been sanctioned for construction of OPD building, staff quarters through CPWD. Besides, Rs 2.5 crore have been sanctioned for medical equipment and instruments. Construction of OPD building (G+2 floors and consisting of A, B, C blocks) and staff quarters (G+3 floors) have been started. However, the progress is slightly hampered due to inclement weather, stated the minister.
"Under Phase-II of the project, consultant/project architect is to be engaged to finalize DPR. Tenders for construction will be called soon thereafter," said the minister in his letter.