Srinagar, Sep 24 (KNO): The proposed expansion of Chest Diseases (CD) Hospital, Dalgate, has not received administrative approval as mandatory clearance from the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) or the Building Operation Controlling Authority (BOCA), Srinagar, is still awaited, government said on Thursday.
The information, according to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was disclosed by the Health and Medical Education Department in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in response to a question by Lal Chowk MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi.
The government said a new G+4 building has been proposed to strengthen the hospital's infrastructure. The Detailed Project Report (DPR), vetted by the Chief Engineer of the Public Works (R&B) Department and received by the department in February 2026, estimates the project cost at Rs 1,999.53 lakh (nearly Rs 20 crore).
According to the department, administrative approval cannot be granted until the required clearance from LCMA or BOCA is obtained. The process for approval will be initiated once the permission is received.
A token allocation of Rs 73 lakh has been earmarked for the project under the 2026-27 Capex Budget. The government said the allocation may be enhanced at the Revised Estimates stage depending on the project's progress.
Funding and execution will be taken up as per prescribed procedures after all necessary approvals are secured, the department said.
The government also noted that the hospital currently functions from an old heritage structure. Despite the building's age, maintaining required treatment standards and addressing infrastructure needs remains a priority.
No timeline has been specified for administrative approval or the commencement of construction, as further progress depends on obtaining the requisite clearance—(KNO)