The Tamil Nadu Health Department has proposed constructing a new building for the historic Government Hospital in Srirangam, replacing ageing infrastructure at the 150-year-old healthcare facility. The move aims to modernise patient care as several old structures have become unsafe and unusable due to deterioration.
The Tamil Nadu Health Department has proposed a major infrastructure upgrade for the Government Hospital in Srirangam by constructing a new hospital building to replace its ageing infrastructure.
The proposal comes as several parts of the existing hospital, some of which are more than 150 years old, have become dilapidated and are no longer considered safe for use.
Located on Gandhi Road opposite the new bus terminal in Srirangam, the hospital began functioning as a dispensary in 1873 during the British era before being upgraded into a taluk hospital. Today, it serves nearly 750 outpatients every day and maintains an average inpatient occupancy of around 120 patients.
The hospital is spread across nearly three acres of land owned by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. It currently operates under the Directorate of Medical Services, which pays a monthly rent of Rs 80,000 for the premises.
The facility has a sanctioned strength of 21 doctors and offers a wide range of healthcare services, including General Medicine, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a labour ward, dialysis services and basic surgical procedures.
According to sources, while some hospital blocks were constructed around two decades ago, others—including the casualty block and the male medical ward—date back more than 150 years and have deteriorated considerably. The male medical ward was declared unsafe a few years ago and has remained closed since then. Nearly half of the hospital’s infrastructure is currently usable, while the remaining buildings can no longer be safely utilised.
Confirming the proposal, HR&CE Minister Shri S. Ramesh said the government has decided to establish new infrastructure for the hospital. He added that discussions are underway on whether the new facility should be constructed at the existing site or at an alternative location.
A formal decision on the project is expected soon, with the objective of strengthening healthcare services and providing modern medical infrastructure for patients in the region.
