Delhi hospital projects planned by AAP under corruption cloud. What’s next for them?

The 13 brownfield projects, along with 11 greenfield ones, were sanctioned for Rs 5,590 crore in 2018-19. These would add another 7,006 beds, the AAP-led Delhi government had estimated at the time.

Former health ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain are facing corruption allegations in connection with these projects, and were booked by the Anti-Corruption Branch in June. On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate raided Bharadwaj’s home in connection with the case.

The ACB had said that not a single project was completed within the prescribed timeline, and substantial deviations and cost escalations, amounting to several hundred crores of rupees, were observed.

Here’s what the status report says

Proposed for foreclosure:

• Aruna Asaf Ali government hospital: It has been concluded by the department that “remodeling of existing hospital is not feasible in a fully functional hospital” and is thus “being planned to be foreclosed by the PWD (Public Works Department) considering the above facts”.
• Lok Nayak Hospital: Brownfield expansion of the casualty block at the hospital has been proposed to be foreclosed. The report notes that remodelling and renovation of two existing floors has been completed by PWD, and “further remodeling of remaining floors is not feasible considering the fact that services are being provided to patients.”

Foreclosed:

• No further brownfield expansion of Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital as it is not feasible, the health secretary told the court during the hearing on August 22.

The report stated that another hospital project at Lok Nayak is under investigation and a decision will be taken shortly.

In its report, the health department informed the court that it has proposed the inauguration of 5 of the 13 brownfield projects in August-September. These include the Trauma Block at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital; a new block at Acharya Bhikshu Hospital; a new block at Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital; a new OPD block at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital and Shri Dada Dev Matri Avam Shishu Chikitsalaya.

Four other hospital projects — Mother and Child Health blocks at Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, and a new block at Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital — are expected to be completed within 2025-26.