A major upgrade is underway at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Hospital in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, that promises significant relief for cancer patients across the state. Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai recently performed the bhoomipujan, a ceremonial groundbreaking, for development works worth more than Rs 103 crore at the hospital campus. The project will transform the existing Regional Cancer Institute into a modern facility where patients can access diagnosis, admission, surgery and complete treatment under one roof. Until now, patients often had to move between different sections of the hospital at various stages of treatment, and this new structure is expected to remove much of that hassle.
Rs 39.36 Crore Approved for the New Seven-Storey Building
The current cancer department building is being expanded and rebuilt into a brand new seven-storey structure. The state government has already cleared a budget of Rs 39.36 crore solely for this expansion. The building's layout has been designed with modern hospital planning in mind, so that patients and their families face no difficulty at any stage of treatment and the hospital's various departments can function together in a coordinated way.
What Each Floor Will House, From the Ground Up
According to the plan, the ground floor will house administrative offices along with a modern pathology lab. From the second floor to the sixth floor, each level will have large wards with 64 beds, ensuring the hospital never runs short of admission capacity for cancer patients. These floors will also include duty rooms for doctors, nursing stations, and essential facilities for attendants accompanying patients. The seventh and topmost floor will house an ICU and modern modular operation theatres, allowing even the most critical surgeries to be carried out safely.
CM Vishnudev Sai: Every Citizen Deserves Timely Healthcare
Addressing the gathering at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai said the government's core priority is to ensure every citizen in the state receives better and timely healthcare, and that significant government spending is being directed toward the health sector to achieve this goal. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, who was present at the event, described the project as a major achievement for the medical field. Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal said five new medical colleges are being set up in the state and existing nursing colleges are being expanded, adding that the government is also promoting yoga and naturopathy so that traditional methods of treatment get greater mainstream attention.
New Hostel and Flats for Students and Doctors Too
Alongside the cancer institute's expansion, facilities for doctors, staff and students at the medical college campus are also being upgraded. The state PWD department will build a new five-storey hostel on the campus at a cost of Rs 61.39 crore, with a capacity of 200 beds. In addition, 24 flats of 2BHK configuration and 32 flats of 3BHK configuration, 56 flats in total, will be constructed for doctors' residential use. The girls' hostel will also be expanded to include extra rooms, a dormitory, a new library and a recreation hall.
Officials Who Attended the Ceremony
The groundbreaking event was attended by MLAs Purandar Mishra and Deepak Mhaske, along with Health Secretary Amit Kataria. Senior officials of the medical education department and the medical college's dean, Dr Vivek Chaudhary, were also present.
