Udupi MLA threatens stir over incomplete district govt. hospital project

Yashpal Suvarna, Udupi MLA, has threatened that he will lead a protest if the State government did not complete the ₹146-crore new 250-bed district government hospital project at Ajjarakadu in Udupi by January 15, 2026.

The MLA said in a statement that when he visited the hospital on Saturday to inspect the progress of the project, the officials concerned told him that nearly 80% of the civil works had been completed. The project requires ₹30 crore immediately for completion. The seven-storey, three lakh-sq. ft hospital also requires additional funds for purchasing beds, medical equipment, and essential instruments, the MLA said.

Mr. Suvarna said that he is appealing to the government to release the funds required immediately to pave the way for inaugurating the hospital building by January 15, 2026.

The MLA said that he had raised the matter relating to the completion of the hospital several times in the Legislative Assembly earlier. He had also appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on the same.

The government should ensure that the project is ready in another one-and-a-half months in the interest of the healthcare needs of people of the district.

The MLA said that the government should open a 50-bed critical care unit at the hospital and sanction adequate medical and non-medical staff. In addition, there is a need for a full-fledged super-speciality hospital in the district, offering treatment for kidney, cardiac and neurological ailments. This will reduce people depending on private hospitals and Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru for their treatment needs.

Mr. Suvarna said that the government should find out solutions to the management issues at the State-run Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Mother and Child Hospital in Mangaluru and should clear pending dues of ₹3.5 crore to Mescom towards electricity charges.