After a two-year delay, work is set to begin on a new 100-bed ESI Hospital with staff quarters at Ashok Nagar, following approval from the Central government for the ₹152.2 crore project. The plan includes demolishing the existing 50-bed hospital and adjoining quarters, which have been declared structurally unsafe.
With tenders reissued, the long-pending project is finally expected to take off. The current facility, built in 1998 on a 3.1-acre plot, was found unfit in a November 2021 structural audit by NIT Tiruchirappalli, which concluded that repairs would cost more than rebuilding, prompting a complete overhaul.
The regional ESI office subsequently recommended upgrading to a 100-bed hospital, citing a growing number of ESI-registered employees. In-principle approval came from the Centre in February 2023, but the project stalled due to land allocation issues. The state’s search for an alternative site led to the initial tender’s cancellation.
Belagavi (South) MLA Abhay Patil had proposed shifting the hospital to Udyambag on five acres of land, but no final decision was reached. Meanwhile, over 3.5 lakh ESI-registered employees and nearly 14 lakh family members continued to face inadequate healthcare facilities.
Rajya Sabha MP Iranna Kadadi’s intervention revived the plan, convincing Central and local authorities to retain the original site and proceed with demolition and reconstruction. “I thank the Union Labour Minister for considering my request and restarting the e-tender process,” Kadadi said, blaming the state government’s negligence for the delay. He urged the state to expedite demolition and construction, calling on district ministers to address the matter urgently.
