Following objections from the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC), the proposed expansion of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is still stuck in the planning stage. The DUAC has stalled the proposed plan of setting up a mother and child block, a surgical block and an OPD saying the plan was “full of flaws”.
Hospital authorities said the expansion plan would almost double the capacity of the premier medical institute. The regulatory body said the plan submitted by AIIMS lacked perspective and, therefore, denied approval. The Art Commission demanded “at least some perspective views” on the proposal from the architect. “After DUAC authorities’ inspection in 2008-09, they pointed out that the construction plan was full of errors without even mentioning the exact area required for setting up the new hospital blocks. A DUAC team told AIIMS authorities to submit a revised plan for these three projects as early as possible,” sources informed.
The AIIMS authorities, on the other hand, claimed that they had submitted the revised construction blueprint for the projects a year ago, but the project has not been approved by DUAC as yet. The Rs 700 crore project consists of setting up of an OPD block (G+5), a 500-bed surgical block and a 500-bed mother and child block. The plan was aimed at expanding AIIMS so that the waiting list of patients grow shorter and more facilities are available. “The project was supposed to be completed by 2013, but with DUAC pointing out certain flaws in the construction plan, it was put on hold,” said a senior official of AIIMS.
DK Sharma, Medical Superintendent, AIIMS, said, “We hope that work can start soon. The expansion plan will be completed in phases. Once completed, it would almost double the institute’s capacity. After DUAC’s approval, we will be seeking funds from the Government, followed by a tendering process. Once work starts, the first building will come up in three years,” he added.