Bhubaneswar, July 25: The municipal corporation has zeroed in on Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (Asian) in Delhi to become its partner in developing a multi-specialty hospital at Gadakana and upgrade five dispensaries under the civic body’s health facility.

Asian, a subsidiary of Blue Sapphire Healthcares Private Limited, is one among the leading 10 private health care providers in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). The public-private partnership (PPP) project will be executed for Rs 200 crore.

“Our adviser in setting up of the project, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has selected Asian, which will establish the hospital and upgrade the dispensaries to house 700 beds. As many as 188 beds will be free for the people from below poverty line families,” said Srimanta Mishra, PPP and joint venture officer of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

Last year, the general administration department allotted five acres at Gadakana opposite Mahanadi Coalfields Limited guest house.

“The multi-specialty hospital will serve the health care requirements of people from areas such as Nandankanan, Raghunathpur, Patia, Damana, Mancheswar, VSS Nagar, Sailashree Vihar, Niladri Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, Jayadev Vihar and many areas on the outskirts,” said municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar.

“The dispensaries at Bharatpur, Rasulgarh, Gadakana, Brahmeswar Patna and Kapilaprasad were earlier under the municipal hospital at Old Town. As the hospital will be taken over by the health department, the PPP partner will develop the dispensaries into modern health sub-centres,” said Mishra.

Madan Majhi, former councillor of Gadakana, said: “With a lot of real-estate activities happening in the area, the hospital will help the people in a great way. The site is centrally located and within 12-15km from other hospitals in the city.”

The agreement for the establishment of the hospital between the corporation and Asian will be signed in a month, said an official.