Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 2: In a major step that would give boost to three major super specialties apart from other streams, 230-bedded hospital of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is going to be commissioned by the end of this year with super specialists from inside and outside the State set to provide medicare to the people not only from Jammu and Kashmir but other parts of the country as well.
Named as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Specialty Hospital, it will also have the Medical and Nursing Colleges after sanction by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and Indian Nursing Council (INC) respectively.
SMVDSB CEO AK Sahu told the Excelsior that the 230-bedded hospital will be commissioned by November-December this year with Oncology, Cardiology and Neurology as major super specialties and healthcare of all other specialties with expert doctors, para-medical and other staff picked up throughout the country.
He said the Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore, which would run the hospital in joint venture with the Shrine Board, will select the super specialists in all faculties to run the hospital. “They will have management control and bear the running expenditure. We will give high quality treatment at low cost,’’ he added.
Sahu said the people not only from Jammu and Kashmir but Mata Vaishno Devi ji pilgrims and patients from other parts of the country will also benefit from the super specialties, which will be available in the hospital. On an average, 25,000 to 30,000 patients visit holy Katra town, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine, daily for darshan of natural pindies of Goddess and they could also benefit from the healthcare facilities. The hospital is coming up at Kakryal, close to Katra town.
The project was initially conceived as Cancer Hospital but subsequently the Shrine Board had decided to make it full fledged super specialty hospital.
“In due course of time, the Shrine Board’s Super Specialty Hospital will also go for setting up of Medical College and Nursing College. The Board will apply for permission from MCI and INC for setting up the two colleges after commissioning of the hospital,’’ the CEO SMVDSB said.
Official sources said that there will be no problem to the Shrine Board in getting permission for running the Medical and Nursing Colleges as it conforms to all formalities required for running the two Colleges.
Meanwhile, the Shrine Board has been constructing ropeway from Mata Vaishno Devi ji Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati on Switzerland based technology, which will carry 800 pilgrims per hour when commissioned in October-November next year.
“The ropeway is being constructed by Switzerland based Grevanta Company in joint venture with Damodar Ropeway, India,’’ sources said, adding that complete Switzerland technology is being used in construction of ropeway, which will carry the pilgrims from Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati and back. An estimated Rs 45 crore to Rs 50 crores would be spend on the ropeway project.
Significantly, this would be first ever ropeway in Jammu. Other ropeways proposed at Mubarak Mandi, Patnitop etc were expected to take long time.
Sources said the arduous two kilometers journey from Mata Vaishno Devi ji Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati, which is skipped by many pilgrims, will be reduced to few minutes with commissioning of the ropeway next year and majority of pilgrims will like to visit the Bhairon temple.
They expressed confidence that the ropeway will attract more pilgrims to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji.
The Shrine Board has also started work on material ropeway from Siar Dabri to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, which could take time in construction.
Meanwhile, the Shrine Board was likely to commission alternate track from Katra to Adh Kunwari by the end of this year. With this, there will be two tracks to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan right from Katra town. Presently, there is alternate track from Adh Kunwari to Bhawan only.
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