Vadodara: Barely two days after the district administration reclaimed the sprawling Yavateshwar Mahadev Temple Trust land, Govt Medical College (GMC) and SSG Hospital have sought 24,000-28,000 sq m of the property for expansion of SSG Hospital, which is central Gujarat’s largest govt healthcare institution, citing acute space constraints and future plans for a Medicity and super-speciality hospital.In a letter to Vadodara collector Anil Dhameliya, the dean of Medical College Baroda and SSG Hospital’s medical superintendent requested allotment of land adjoining the campus for construction of staff quarters, student hostels and other institutional infrastructure.The campus is no longer sufficient for our expanding healthcare and academic needs, the letter states. Several projects approved by the state govt cannot move forward without additional land, the letter adds.It says the existing 35-acre campus has steadily shrunk over the years as portions were allotted for other govt buildings, leaving little room for expansion, despite growing patient load and medical education requirements.Among the projects awaiting land are a 500-student hostel for the physiotherapy college, whose tender process is underway, besides hostels for 250 medical interns and 500 MBBS students. The hospital also highlighted a shortage of staff accommodation. Against 608 Class III employees, only 64 govt quarters are available, most of them old and dilapidated, while around 216 new quarters are required.The proposal also points to Vadodara’s planned Medicity and super-speciality hospital, stating that additional land is essential to support future healthcare infrastructure. The institution sought land near Vishram Sadan on the Bhimnath Bridge side of the reclaimed property.The hospital authorities also requested correction of land records and survey entries so statutory approvals for projects are not delayed.On July 18, the district administration reclaimed nearly 41 acres (1.68 lakh sq m) of prime land worth around Rs 2,400 crore near Kalaghoda Circle after the Gujarat high court upheld the ownership of the Yavateshwar Mahadev Temple Trust. The demolition drive cleared a resort-style property, car showroom, party office and several commercial and residential structures.Established in 1880, the 1,513-bed SSG Hospital serves patients from Gujarat and neighbouring states, while Govt Medical College, founded in 1949, now admits 250 MBBS students a year.
