Ferozepur: PGIMER Satellite Centre project worth Rs 200 crore yet to take off

Ferozepur: Even the work on the construction of AIIMS in Bathinda that was sanctioned much later has started but there is no dawn for the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Satellite Centre project in Ferozepur. The Rs-200 crore PGI Satellite Centre project announced in 2013 is yet to see advancements.

The objective of providing specialized healthcare facilities through this project is long due. The project is stuck in procedural complications till date and has seemingly become a sufferer of the political punch-up.

The state government after much procrastination approved the transfer of 25 acres belonging to the Horticulture Department at Malwal Qadim village to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for setting up this 100-bedded centre linked to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Of the two satellite centres announced for Sangrur and Ferozepur, outpatient department (OPD) services have been operational in Sangrur and its foundation stone is laid. However, the project in Ferozepur is yet to see progress.

JS Sodhi, president, Live Savers Club told The Tribune that "Thousands of patients have to traverse long distances every day for specialised treatment," said JS Sodhi, president.

The matter was taken up by the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda in 2018 who reportedly decided to go ahead with this 100-bedded PGI Satellite Centre in this border town.

This matter was also placed before the PGI's governing body during its meeting in July 2018. It was decided to prepare a detailed project report on the same, but to date, no results have come forth.

Prior to this, the Congress MLA Parminder Singh Pinki accused the SAD-BJP regime of delaying the project. He ensured that the foundation stone of this project was laid soon and medical and nursing college would also be set up here soon.

On two previous occasions, a high-level team of PGI officials visited the town to finalize the site, but without any substantial result.

In response to the delay of the project, a PGI official told the daily "There was delay caused due to the issue in the transfer of land and some litigation issues also cropped up. However, the present proposed site belongs to the government and we see no hold ups in future."

Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, DC, told the daily that the administration would try that outpatient department services were made operational soon on the civil hospital premises till the building of the centre gets completed.

Also Read: Cabinet nod to 100-bedded PGIMER satellite centre at Ferozepur in Punjab