Dharmasala instead of proposed helipad inside Bhubaneswar AIIMS campus raises eyebrows

Bhubaneswar: The proposed helipad on the premises of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar received a setback as the hospital authorities have reportedly decided to construct a dharmasala for patients' attendants.

The helipad was proposed to be built near the hospital's trauma care centre so that injured jawans of the paramilitary forces deployed in Maoists-affected regions can be ferried to AIIMS at the earliest for treatment.

AIIMS director Gitanjali Batmanabane said, "The shifting of the helipad project was done because the liquid medical oxygen plant has to be set up near the hospital. So, that was the only site (proposed helipad site) available for the oxygen plant. Therefore, the hospital authorities decided to shift the helipad to another site."

Gitanjali further said that the dharamasala is not a project which will come up instead of the helipad.

On the other hand, former AIIMS, Bhubaneswar director Ashok Kumar Mohapatra said, "There should be a helipad on the hospital campus. Whatever is being planned it should be done keeping in mind the long-term requirements."

It is also believed that construction of the helipad far from the trauma centre will not be beneficial.

"The helipad at AIIMS would have been a moral boost for the security personnel. It is unfortunate that the plan for the helipad was changed," said Former DGP of Odisha, SN Tiwari.

People from across other state are visiting AIIMS everyday and construction of a dharmasala for them is always welcome but it remains to be seen how far the helipad is being shifted.