No building, zero beds, yet 87 staff: Indore's hospital that exists only on paper
A delay in building Indore's proposed Khajrana Civil Hospital has sparked a political row after staff postings continued. The government says employees were adjusted elsewhere pending land allotment, while the Congress has demanded an inquiry.
A six-year delay in the construction of a proposed 100-bed civil hospital in Indore has triggered a political row in Madhya Pradesh after it emerged that dozens of government posts were sanctioned and employees continued to be transferred against the hospital despite the facility never being built.
The Khajrana Civil Hospital was approved by the state government on June 23, 2020. Along with the project, authorities sanctioned 87 posts, including specialist doctors, medical officers, staff nurses, laboratory technicians and pharmacists. However, six years later, the hospital building has not come up as land for the project is yet to be allotted.
The issue has drawn attention after reports revealed that transfers and postings continued to be made in the name of the proposed hospital. According to official records, even on June 15, 2026, a laboratory technician was posted to Khajrana Civil Hospital despite construction of the facility not having begun.
Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Hasani said the project had been delayed because suitable government land could not be identified in the urban area. He clarified that the sanctioned nursing and paramedical staff had been deployed at Sanjeevani Clinics and other government health institutions across Indore until the hospital becomes operational.
Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla also defended the government's decision, saying the site earlier housed an Urban Primary Health Centre, which was later upgraded into a proposed 50-bed and subsequently a 100-bed civil hospital. He said the project could not move forward due to the non-availability of land and added that the sanctioned staff had been adjusted at other government hospitals and healthcare facilities while efforts to identify suitable land continue.
CONGRESS ALLEGES SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES
The Congress, however, has alleged that the episode points to serious irregularities. Former minister Sajjan Singh Verma described the matter as a "major scam", questioning how appointments and transfers could be made for a hospital that exists only on paper. He demanded a high-level inquiry and said the party would raise the issue prominently during the upcoming Assembly session.
At present, the sanctioned staff are serving at PC Sethi Hospital, Hukumchand Hospital and other government institutions. Meanwhile, more than three lakh residents of Khajrana, Musakhedi, Tejaji Nagar, Bicholi Hapsi and surrounding areas continue to depend on MY Hospital, MTH Hospital and the district hospital for government healthcare services.
A six-year delay in the construction of a proposed 100-bed civil hospital in Indore has triggered a political row in Madhya Pradesh after it emerged that dozens of government posts were sanctioned and employees continued to be transferred against the hospital despite the facility never being built.
The Khajrana Civil Hospital was approved by the state government on June 23, 2020. Along with the project, authorities sanctioned 87 posts, including specialist doctors, medical officers, staff nurses, laboratory technicians and pharmacists. However, six years later, the hospital building has not come up as land for the project is yet to be allotted.
The issue has drawn attention after reports revealed that transfers and postings continued to be made in the name of the proposed hospital. According to official records, even on June 15, 2026, a laboratory technician was posted to Khajrana Civil Hospital despite construction of the facility not having begun.
Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Hasani said the project had been delayed because suitable government land could not be identified in the urban area. He clarified that the sanctioned nursing and paramedical staff had been deployed at Sanjeevani Clinics and other government health institutions across Indore until the hospital becomes operational.
Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla also defended the government's decision, saying the site earlier housed an Urban Primary Health Centre, which was later upgraded into a proposed 50-bed and subsequently a 100-bed civil hospital. He said the project could not move forward due to the non-availability of land and added that the sanctioned staff had been adjusted at other government hospitals and healthcare facilities while efforts to identify suitable land continue.
CONGRESS ALLEGES SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES
The Congress, however, has alleged that the episode points to serious irregularities. Former minister Sajjan Singh Verma described the matter as a "major scam", questioning how appointments and transfers could be made for a hospital that exists only on paper. He demanded a high-level inquiry and said the party would raise the issue prominently during the upcoming Assembly session.
At present, the sanctioned staff are serving at PC Sethi Hospital, Hukumchand Hospital and other government institutions. Meanwhile, more than three lakh residents of Khajrana, Musakhedi, Tejaji Nagar, Bicholi Hapsi and surrounding areas continue to depend on MY Hospital, MTH Hospital and the district hospital for government healthcare services.
