Telangana CM orders fast-tracking of new OGH land

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday directed officials to expedite the process of transfer of police land at Goshamahal to the medical and health department for the construction of a new building for the Osmania General Hospital. The new hospital will be built on 32 acres of the land currently occupied by the police stadium and police sports complex at Goshamahal.

During a review meeting at the Secretariat, Revanth Reddy ordered the immediate transfer of this land, currently under the control of the police department, to the medical and health department.

The meeting, which was attended by health minister Damodara Rajanarsimha, Chief Secretary A Shanti Kumari, and others, marked the first under the state government's SPEED (Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery) initiative, which prioritises various development projects to boost the economic and social growth of Telangana in the next five years.

Among the 19 key infra and social projects proposed under "Mission SPEED', the Chief Minister focused on the construction of the new OGH building, alongside plans for 15 nursing colleges, 28 new paramedical colleges, and the construction of buildings for women self-help groups (SHGs) in the district headquarters.

Revanth Reddy said that the design of the new OGH building should cater to the needs of the next 50 years. He stressed the importance of developing connectivity roads around the hospital to ensure easy access from all directions. The plans include not only medical facilities but also an academic block and hostels for nursing staff.The Chief Minister called for a comprehensive design approach, ensuring that all medical departments and services are available in a corporate-style environment, complemented by spacious and pleasant open areas rather than just concrete and multi-storied structures.

Revanth Reddy also highlighted the need to preserve the existing OGH buildings as historical landmarks. As part of the Musi River Development Project, these buildings will be transformed into attractions for tourists, maintaining their historical significance.

To facilitate the transfer of the Goshamahal site, the Chief Minister instructed officials to identify an alternative location for the police department. The Hyderabad district collector was directed to inspect the area around the Police Transport Organisation and City Police Academy in Petlaburj as a potential site for relocating the police stadium and sports complex.