THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The long-delayed 500-bedded South Goa district hospital will be finally ready for use before
April end in the ongoing battle against coronavirus.
The contractor engaged by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has
started the “deep cleaning” work of the ground and first three floors of the hospital building. The
deep cleaning work is estimated to cost the exchequer around Rs 4.5 lakh and expected to be
complete within 22 days with effect from April 2.
That’s not all. With the state desperately looking for spacious buildings to convert them as
quarantine centres, the GSIDC has installed water purifiers on the floors and completed work on
the toilet block so that the building can be occupied immediately if the situation warrants.
GSICD General Manager Jude Carvalho said the deep cleaning agency has already started work
on the cleaning work. “Given the manpower constraints, the work will now be complete within
22 days,” he said, adding that the building should be ready for occupation before the month-end.
Though the five-floor building was initially designed for an 800-bedded district hospital, the
government has now decided to utilize the top two floors of the building to accommodate a
medical college.
Work on the top two floors is still incomplete. In fact, material from the first three floors has
been moved into the fourth floor after the government sent an SOS to the GSIDC to expedite the
work in view of the coronavirus threat.
The GSIDC GM informed that the agency will initiate the process of handing over the hospital
building to the Director of Health Services from next week.
Health officials pointed out that the South Goa district building will come in handy for the
government in the Covid-19 battle as a quarantine centre in the event the authorities cannot get
spacious buildings to house persons with travel history.
