A 100-bed civil hospital planned for Khajrana in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has become a major example of poor public infrastructure execution. The hospital was approved on June 23, 2020, to serve Khajrana and nearby areas, but six years later, the project has still not reached the construction stage. There is no functional hospital building, no wards, no beds and no patients at the proposed site.
The issue has gained public attention because 87 government posts were sanctioned for the proposed hospital even though the facility itself has not become operational. These posts included medical officers, specialist doctors, staff nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and support staff.
Why Was Khajrana Civil Hospital Planned?
Khajrana is one of Indore’s fast-growing urban areas. The hospital was planned to serve more than three lakh residents from Khajrana, Musakhedi, Tejaji Nagar, Bicholi Hapsi and nearby localities. These areas continue to depend on existing government hospitals in other parts of Indore for secondary healthcare services.
The purpose of the new hospital was to reduce pressure on major public hospitals such as MY Hospital, MTH Hospital, PC Sethi Hospital and the District Hospital. If completed on time, the Khajrana Civil Hospital could have improved access to government healthcare for a large urban population.
What Went Wrong?
The main problem is the land transfer. A 0.700-hectare land parcel under Survey No. 435/1/1 in Khajrana village was identified for the hospital.
However, the Health Department has not received formal physical possession of the land. The land remains under the use of the Indore Municipal Corporation, which has prevented construction from starting.
Because of this, the project is still stuck before the construction stage. No hospital building has been built. No administrative approval has been issued for construction. No construction funds have been released for the hospital building.
87 Posts Sanctioned, But Hospital Still Not Built
The Public Health and Family Welfare Department sanctioned 87 posts for Khajrana Civil Hospital in 2021. This is the key reason the issue has become controversial. A hospital that has no building and no patients continued to exist in official systems through sanctioned posts, staffing records and transfer orders.
The district administration later clarified that the currently appointed staff include 29 staff nurses, 5 pharmacists and 1 laboratory technician. Since the hospital is not operational, these employees are working at other government hospitals and health facilities across Indore. Their services have been certified by the heads of those institutions, and salaries are being paid as per government rules.
No Doctors Posted, No Equipment Purchased
The district administration also clarified that no doctors have been posted to the proposed Khajrana Civil Hospital. It also stated that no medicines, medical equipment, furniture or hospital materials have been purchased for the project. This clarification is important because it separates verified administrative facts from exaggerated claims circulating around the issue.
Government Explanation for Delay and Staff Deployment
Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said the project started as an Urban Primary Health Centre, was later upgraded to a 50-bed civil hospital, and then planned as a larger facility.
According to him, construction could not begin because suitable government land was not available. He also said the sanctioned staff were adjusted in other government health institutions so their services were not wasted.
Why This Case Matters
The Khajrana Civil Hospital case shows how a public welfare project can remain alive on paper while failing on the ground. The sanctioning of posts without a completed hospital building has exposed gaps in planning, land coordination, project monitoring and administrative updating.
For residents, the loss is practical and immediate. A 100-bed hospital promised in 2020 has still not become available in 2026. People in Khajrana and surrounding areas continue to depend on existing government hospitals, many of which already serve large patient loads.
What Happens Next?
The next step is clear: the land must be formally transferred to the Health Department. After that, administrative approval, financial sanction and construction planning must follow. Until these steps are completed, Khajrana Civil Hospital will remain only a sanctioned project, not a functioning healthcare facility.
Conclusion
The Khajrana Civil Hospital issue is not just about one delayed hospital. It is a warning about how public infrastructure projects can fail when land transfer, funding approval and administrative monitoring do not move together. A hospital approved for a large urban population should not remain stuck in files for six years.
The government now has to ensure that the land issue is resolved, construction approval is granted and the promised 100-bed hospital is finally delivered to the people of Khajrana.