Nagpur: The much-awaited Super Speciality Dental Care and Research Centre at Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH), Nagpur, has received a push from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has directed officials to complete the remaining works and open the facility within three months.The project, launched in 2019, has its building about 80% complete, but the facility has remained non-functional amid delays in completing works and arranging equipment and funds. Following Fadnavis’s review of pending projects at the Government Medical College campus recently, GDCH officials said they would now ask Public Works Department (PWD) electrical and civil officials to expedite the handing over of the building.The new centre will house six superspeciality dental departments — digital dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, oral implantology, sports dentistry, craniofacial surgery and forensic odontology — bringing advanced and specialised dental services under one roof. Officials said this is the country’s first such superspeciality dental care and research centre.GDCH officials said some equipment has already been received and installation is underway, while equipment to be procured through District Planning Committee (DPDC) and state govt funds is yet to arrive. “Installation is underway and we can’t rush with it. The equipment has to be installed and commissioned properly,” officials said.The project involves construction over 4,770.12 sqm, with about 22,002 sqft of land acquired. The bhoomipujan was performed by Fadnavis and Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Jan 4, 2019.The building work is currently around 80% complete, while additional funds have been provided for electrical works. Administrative approval for the additional electrical expenditure was received on Oct 10, 2024. The govt has also sanctioned new posts for operating the centre. Of 91 sanctioned posts, 60 have been filled, while recruitment for some of the remaining posts is underway.For equipment, administrative approval has been granted for procurement worth around Rs 3.89 crore through the DPDC, while another Rs 3.43 crore has been sanctioned under the state plan. Procurement under these funds is in progress.The GDCH, which has been functioning since 1968, caters to at least 500 patients daily from Vidarbha and neighbouring parts of central India. It currently has 63 BDS seats and 24 MDS seats, besides fellowship and PhD programmes, and has received NAAC A+ accreditation.The new centre is expected to provide advanced treatment for complex dental conditions while giving undergraduate and postgraduate students exposure to modern dental technologies. Officials said it would simultaneously strengthen patient care, dental education and research.Maharashtra currently has four government dental colleges, one BMC-run Nair Dental College and more than 30 private dental colleges. The Nagpur centre, once fully operational, is expected to add to state’s specialised dental care and research infra and cater to patients from Vidarbha and central India.
