Only 20 per cent works completed in Koshi Hospital in 30 months

By Our Correspondent,Biratnagar, Dec. 21: The delay in infrastructure construction of Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar has affected its service delivery. The government had, 30 months ago, provided a budget for the construction of a five-storey building, but the construction company has not completed the work yet.

The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Biratnagar, granted the construction contract to the Raman-Bhumi, B.I.P.L JV to complete the building construction works within 30 months by July 7, 2021. 

The company which received the contract claiming 40 per cent less than the demanded budget of Rs. 500 million have completed only 20 per cent of building construction work and the deadline for completing the project is going to end on January 7, 2024. The company contracted the work at Rs. 332.24 million. 

The locals are not getting timely treatment due to the lack of infrastructure. Daily 2,000 patients from the financially disadvantaged groups, those included in health insurance programmes and those from the middle class are not getting emergency and regular treatment due to the delay in building infrastructure.  

The two-storey building was demolished to build a new building. Therefore, services including X-rays and ultrasounds are not being conducted properly. The misunderstanding between the contractor partners is said to be the reason for the delay. 

The owner of Bhumi Construction, Krishna Bohara, has been out of contact leaving the work in the middle and only the owner of Raman Construction Company, Pawan Kumar Mahat, has been continuing the work. “The department is preparing to extend the deadline for project completion. We have warned them of actions if the construction work is not completed within the new deadline,” said Surendra Kumar Shah, Head of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Biratnagar.

The construction company has already spent Rs. 80 million while completing only 20 per cent of the work. The 350-bed Koshi Hospital is planning to increase its beds to 500, once the construction work is completed.