OPD of AIIMS Satellite Center Balasore likely to start in July

BHUBANESWAR: AIIMS Bhubaneswar is planning to start outpatient department (OPD) services at the permanent campus of its satellite center at Balasore in July this year. OPD facility will be inaugurated by end of June, official sources said.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar director Gitanjali Batmanabane on Sunday told TOI that they are hoping to inaugurate OPD services at the satellite center’s permanent campus at Balasore in June.“The main structure of the OPD building has been constructed, but the flooring and other interior works are underway,” she added.
The temporary weekly OPD services were started at the community centre of Defence Colony in Balasore on every Saturday since July 8, 2017. The services were postponed due to Covid situation at present, said the official sources.
Around 25 acres have been given for the satellite center at Balasore. “The agency which is executing the OPD building work will hand over the building to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in June. The OPD will be opened six days a week. Some consultants will stay there. Our phase-II work will start soon,” said an official of the institute.
In November last year, Union health and family welfare minister Harsh Vardhan while replying to a letter of Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka had stated that the project is being taken up in two phases. Phase-I: construction of OPD building and two blocks of staff quarters. Phase-II: setting up of a multi-specialty hospital. AIIMS Bhubaneswar has obtained approval for both the phases.
Under Phase-I of the project, Rs 35.76 crore had been sanctioned for construction of OPD building, staff quarters through Central Public Works Department (CPWD). Besides, Rs 2.5 crore had 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) are underway.