Patna: Five months after the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Danapur Sub-Division Model Hospital, the facility remains non-functional due to delays in electricity supply and bureaucratic hurdles. Inaugurated by Union health minister J P Nadda on Sept 6 last year through videoconferencing, the five-storey, 100-bed hospital was built at a cost of Rs 32 crore. Designed to address the healthcare needs of Danapur and its surrounding areas, the hospital has 60 rooms, including an emergency ward and a registration desk.
Despite its potential, the hospital lies dormant, causing frustration among residents. “The Danapur electric office recently inspected the hospital and assessed its power requirement at 500 kW,” said Seema, the hospital manager. “The health department has already deposited Rs 72,560 with the Danapur electric office to expedite the process and we expect the hospital to become functional this month,” she added.
However, Ravi Bhushan, Danapur division electrical engineer, pointed to another bottleneck. “The South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited will supply power only after receiving a no-objection certificate from the electric inspector who recently audited the premises. Otherwise, we are fully prepared to install the metre and ensure immediate power supply. A separate transformer has already been installed on the premises,” he added.
“The new hospital is a dream project for the people of Danapur,” said Patna civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh. “It is true that there has been a delay in getting the required power supply, but we are confident it will be resolved soon,” he added.
Zila Parishad member Om Prakash Rai said the absence of electricity has rendered the hospital’s equipment useless and there is still no clear timeline for resolving the issue. “This delay is unacceptable for a project of such significance,” he added.
Uday Rai, a local, said, “The delay in making this hospital functional highlights the pressing inadequacy of healthcare infrastructure in rural and semi-urban areas. The electricity issue should be resolved without any further delay.”
