Construction cost for Udhampur army hospital hiked

India's News.Net
Thursday 2nd July, 2009 (IANS)

The cabinet Thursday hiked the estimated construction cost for an ultra-modern 650-bed army hospital at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir to Rs.2.32 billion from Rs.1.26 billion.

The decision to hike the cost of the new multi-storeyed modern Command Hospital complex and associated accommodation for the Northern Command at Udhampur was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said cabinet spokesperson Ambika Soni.

She said the project was earlier approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security Aug 9, 2005 at an estimated cost of Rs.1.26 billion. The cost has now been revised to Rs.2.32 billion, she said.

It is a 650-bedded tertiary care and referral hospital and will provide specialised medical care to the armed forces personnel of the Northern Command, she said.

The information and broadcasting minister said since the hospital is presently housed mostly in old and dilapidated buildings of 1949 and 1960 vintage, there is an inescapable and urgent requirement for a new building.

Approval of the hospital project will provide comprehensive medical care to troops and families of armed forces, ex-servicemen and their families located in Northern Command and Jammu and Kashmir. It will also impart training to medics and paramedics.

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