Ashok Gehlot Questions Delay in Construction of IPD Tower at Jaipur Womens Hospital

Jaipur, March 25: Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot raised serious concerns on Wednesday regarding the delay in the construction of the IPD tower at the Women’s Hospital in Jaipur (Sanganeri Gate). This announcement was part of his digital series titled ‘Waiting Science – The Science of Waiting.’

Gehlot accused the current BJP government of negligence and insensitivity, which has left essential healthcare infrastructure incomplete. He noted that the project was initiated by the Congress government in February 2023, with an estimated cost of around ₹117 crores, aimed at providing world-class healthcare facilities for women.

The proposed IPD tower is designed to significantly enhance medical services, featuring a capacity of 500 beds, a modern ICU with 50 beds, and six state-of-the-art modular operation theaters. Gehlot emphasized that this project was a crucial step towards strengthening healthcare for mothers and women in the state.

He expressed deep concern that this project, which was supposed to be completed and dedicated to the public by August 2025, is now facing delays and remains in limbo. Questioning the current administration, Gehlot asked whether women’s healthcare is no longer a priority and how much longer the people of the state, especially mothers and sisters, will have to wait for such essential services.

Referring to his ongoing digital series, Gehlot pointed out that this is not an isolated issue. In previous episodes of ‘Waiting Science,’ he had also raised questions about delays in the construction of the IPD tower at SMS Hospital and various projects associated with the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Social Sciences.

Throughout the series, he has consistently highlighted what he describes as a pattern of slow progress and administrative inaction in completing significant welfare projects initiated during his tenure.

Addressing concerns about healthcare infrastructure, Gehlot questioned the delay in the construction of the 1,200-bed IPD tower at SMS Hospital, which was envisioned in 2022 and was supposed to be completed by 2024. He noted that the project is now over a year behind schedule, with little visible progress.

He remarked that the hospital’s construction should have been completed by 2022; however, it remains unfinished even after more than a year beyond the deadline. Gehlot further alleged that during the BJP’s tenure, not a single floor of this tower has been constructed. He stated that the delay in the IPD tower compromises patient safety, as the project was intended to provide relief to thousands of patients visiting the state’s largest government hospital.