HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, June 14: In a major boost to healthcare infrastructure in Upper Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a 200-bedded City Hospital, which will function as an annexe of the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH). The proposed facility will be located at Jail Road in Dibrugarh.
The state-of-the-art B+G+6 storied hospital complex will be constructed under the World Bank-funded Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST) Project, with a total financial outlay of Rs 206 crore.
Spanning across 10 bighas of land, the hospital will cover a built-up area of 29,087 square metres and is expected to be completed within two years, as per officials from the Health and Family Welfare Department.
Of the 200 beds, 120 will be dedicated to the Maternity Department, while the remaining will serve patients from Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, and other key departments. The facility is envisioned to ease the burden on the existing AMCH and significantly improve access to secondary-level healthcare services for residents across Dibrugarh and adjoining districts.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Sarma said that the new hospital will not only enhance medical capacity but also reflect the government’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and responsive public health system across Assam. He highlighted that the facility will bring essential healthcare closer to urban and semi-urban populations, reducing travel time and load on tertiary hospitals.
The ceremonial event witnessed the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who termed the project a “landmark step” in strengthening Assam’s healthcare ecosystem. Several other dignitaries, including Assam Ministers Jogen Mohan, Prasanta Phukan, and Bimal Borah, along with local MLAs, senior government officials, and members of the medical fraternity, also attended the foundation laying programme.
The City Hospital is expected to act as a model for future urban healthcare expansion in the state, under the broader vision of upgrading medical infrastructure and achieving universal health coverage.