3 min readChandigarhFeb 7, 2026 12:28 PM IST
First published on: Feb 7, 2026 at 12:26 PM IST
Work on the proposed Critical Care Block at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh is set to begin after receiving the grant of environmental clearance, PGI Deputy Director, Administration, Pankaj Rai confirmed.
The delay in environmental clearance had stalled the project for several months, but following approval, construction work has been allotted to Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation Limited HSCC) (India), according to a PGI spokesman. Once complete, the project would help strengthen the institute’s preparedness to fight infectious disease outbreaks.
According to the spokesman, the Critical Care Block was not part of the institute’s original master plan, but the Covid-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for dedicated critical care infrastructure. Recognising this, the Centre approved the project under PM-ABHIM, making it one of PGI’s key upcoming facilities.
The 150-bed Critical Care Block will come up on a vacant plot opposite the School of Nursing on the PGI campus. Once operational, it will allow treatment of critically ill and infectious disease patients under one roof, significantly enhancing the institute’s emergency response capacity.
“The project was conceptualised during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the institute faced an unprecedented surge of critically ill patients. At the time, several departments and the Nehru Extension Block had to be converted into Covid-19 care facilities to manage the crisis,” Rai said.
The spokesperson said the Critical Care Block would function as a multispeciality centre equipped with intensive care units (ICUs), step-down units (SDUs), isolation wards, oxygen-supported beds and surgical units, and also include two labour rooms, delivery and recovery rooms, and a dedicated unit for neonatal care and related conditions.
At present, two major projects, the Neurosciences Centre and the Mother and Child Care Centre, are expected to be operational this year, according to the spokesman. Work on both projects had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Rai, “The Critical Care Block is a strategically important project for the institute and has been under planning for a considerable time. The facility is expected to significantly benefit patients requiring specialised and intensive care.”
Once functional, the new Critical Care Block will cater to patients requiring intensive monitoring and advanced life support, including those arriving at the emergency and trauma centres in critical condition. Experts believe that in the event of a future pandemic or similar public health emergency, the facility will play a crucial role in managing patient load efficiently.
Hospital officials said that patients from any department who require advanced critical care and close monitoring will be referred to this block, allowing other clinical areas to function more effectively.
Amid rising patient load, 32 PGI departments seek 182 additional assistant professor posts to strengthen care delivery. (Express File Photo) 
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