The acquisition of a portion of land belonging to the Government-run Epidemic Diseases Hospital (popularly known as Isolation Hospital) by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has come as a blessing in disguise for this facility on Old Madras Road.
For, the hospital will get an additional building as BMRCL has offered to build a 100-bed, four-storey facility on its premises as compensation.
Many of the buildings in the 80-year-old hospital are in a shabby condition.
The compound wall of the hospital, where patients of tetanus, gastroenteritis, rabies, diphtheria and measles are treated, has been demolished to make way for the metro rail line running along Old Madras Road. As compensation, BMRCL has committed Rs. 7.5 crore to the hospital.
“As BMRCL has occupied some portions of the Isolation Hospital, we are constructing a new building instead of giving them compensation in cash,” said Yashvanth Chavan, BMRCL spokesperson.
State Health Secretary E.V. Ramana Reddy clarified that the Government will not contribute to the new building. “It is being funded entirely by BMRCL,” he confirmed.
However, as the location of the hospital remains the same, i.e., on an arterial, traffic-choked road, patients will have to bear with high decibel levels, though hospitals fall in the silence zone under the noise pollution rules. “Tetanus patients, who form the second largest number of patients here, need silence. But as we are located on the highway, that problem remains,” said Thimma Reddy, Medical Superintendent of the hospital.
The hospital was set up under the British rule at what was then outside the city limits to treat highly infectious diseases. It was administered by the erstwhile Madras Presidency.
