Cash starved Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital is in the process of getting its inner approach roads at least ‘repaired’ after Public Works Department (PWD) came up with demand of hefty sum for construction of new roads which the administration couldn’t bear at all keeping its cash availability and priorities in mind.
Ironically, even the officials of the largest public hospital of the State are not able to recall when those approach roads were constructed last time. “Inner roads are in pathetic condition not from some days, but from the days I joined the hospital few years ago. Now that Super Specialty Wing is situated on the other side, the paid ward going to be functional soon and many other constructions for various purposes are emerging behind the main building, the approach roads need to be constructed as soon as possible,” said a senior doctor unwilling to be named.
It is not that the hospital administration is unaware with the fact. “We have written to the hospital administration so many times because entire approach road stretches in premise appear like gutters in rainy season or whenever there is downpour, and reaching out to even hostels becomes horrible task,” said a 3rd year MBBS Student.
RIMS Acting Director RK Srivastava admitted about awareness of the fact. “But the fact is that we have limited resource and unlimited expenses. We can’t even think of doing anything other than extremely important as far as spending a single penny is concerned. Entire expense for construction or repairing of inner approach roads is to be borne by hospital itself. The problem is that whenever we approached to the PWD for getting roads constructed, they presented an estimate which appeared not at all to be feasible for us keeping other priorities in mind. However, we have asked them to come out with repairing cost estimate.” He also said, “I am sure it will be within our pockets. I am sure we will have all inner approach roads constructed within another six months.”