MADURAI: Villagers have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in completing the Critical Care Unit at the Melur Government Hospital. The construction of the facility began in January 2023 with an initial completion target of May 2024. Officials later revised the deadline to November 2025. However, the project remains unfinished.
According to sources, the new Critical Care Unit building is being constructed at a cost of Rs 20.12 crore. The structure comprises a ground floor and four additional floors. Once operational, it will have a capacity of 50 beds and include a maternity ward, consultation rooms, dialysis units, four operation theatres, and a neonatal care facility.
Speaking to TNIE, Rajeshwaran, a resident of Melur, voiced disappointment over the delay. “Melur GH remains the most preferred government healthcare facility in the entire taluk, especially for underprivileged families. With patient numbers increasing steadily, this project was meant to address needs beyond the existing Emergency Care Unit. The demand for critical treatment services for maternal health, kidney ailments, diabetes, and paediatric care has been rising among residents from surrounding villages. However, even after three years, the project has not been completed,” he said.
Pugalenthi, a local activist from Thiruvathavur, said their village is about 7 km from the hospital. “Though we have a Primary Health Centre, we depend entirely on the hospital’s maternity ward for emergencies. When the new project was announced, it gave us hope. But the facility is still not accessible to the public. Women from nearly 20 villages in Melur taluk, including Ambalakaranpatti, Kottagudi, and Amur, rely on the maternity services here,” he said.
Speaking to TNIE, a senior Health Department official said that the facility would be opened in the first week of April 2026. “There were delays in the initial phase. The tender was awarded in October 2023, but fund allocation was delayed. Work commenced in January 2024. While civil construction is expected to be completed by November 2025, major electrical works remain pending. A dedicated HT line and transformer installation are currently underway. Once completed, the facility will be ready by April 2026,” the official said.