Srinagar, July 15, 2025 : In a significant leap for orthopaedic healthcare in Jammu & Kashmir, the Bone & Joint Hospital in Barzulla, Srinagar, has inaugurated a long-awaited 120-bed G+5 block after several delays. This development is part of the World Bank-funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) aimed at strengthening critical healthcare infrastructure in disaster-prone areas.
Despite devastating events, the 2014 floods and a major fire in March 2022, the hospital continued to serve nearly 1,000 outpatients daily from across J&K and Ladakh. Now, the hospital is better equipped to meet patient demand with a facility that reflects modern design and medical efficiency.
Key Features of the New Block:
- Built at a cost of ₹88.94 crore by the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC)
- Earthquake-resilient structure designed as per India Green Building Council (IGBC) norms
- Equipped with modular operation theatres, ICU, CSSD, TSSU, and specialised laundry
- Includes pre- and post-operative care units, and 140 kg/day biomedical waste handling capacity
- Features an STP and ETP for scientific waste disposal
- First hospital in J&K to integrate a pneumatic tube system for rapid transport of samples and medicines between departments
Doctors and staff expressed optimism, stating that the facility will significantly reduce overcrowding and improve patient outcomes. Former CM Omar Abdullah, present at the event, praised the staff’s resilience and recalled the hospital’s original inauguration by Sher-i-Kashmir in 1982.
Health Minister Sakina Itoo said the new addition would benefit not only Kashmir but parts of the Jammu division as well. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary, Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, MLAs, and senior officials from the health and medical education department also attended the inauguration.
This new facility marks a turning point in the rebuilding of Kashmir’s healthcare system, delivering both hope and high-quality care.