VISAKHAPATNAM: The King George Hospital (KGH) will soon have a modern diet kitchen which is being set up at an estimated cost of `30 lakh. The earlier kitchen did not have enough equipment, forcing the hospital authorities to depend on the food contractors. The works, began in May, are delayed as funds are being released in phases. Now, the KGH kitchen is being run from the premises of the Government Hospital for Mental Care for the last one month.
Speaking to the Express, KGH superintendent G Arjuna said, “Earlier, it was a diet kitchen with minimum facilities, but now we have tried to set up as many equipment as possible. We are coming up with modern techniques that will make the cooking easy, fast and hygienic as well. Almost 70 per cent of the works has been done and the remaining will be completed soon. The inauguration might take place in the next 10 days.”
As far as the safety measures are concerned, he said, a lot of care is being taken keeping the health of dieticians and kitchen staff in view.
“We have placed the roof at 20 feet height and a number of ventilators too. Besides, there is a separate section for storage of gas cylinders from where the pipelines will be laid to the boilers through steamers. The gas fixation work is yet to be done,” he said.
The kitchen has got six more boilers in addition to the earlier two, six diet trolleys in addition to the four.
Apart from the five new idly makers, dosa makers, stoves and steamers through which the cooking can be done with less time.
According to deputy engineer of AP Medical Services Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC) KS Srinivas Rao, the work was undertaken in May and major part of the project has been completed.
“If everything goes well, we will hand over the new kitchen to the KGH in a week. We are done with sheds and a few rooms of the kitchen.
The rest of the portion where the office works will be done are yet to be completed for which we need a sanction. As soon as we get the funds, we will take up that too,” said Rao.