Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16: City's health care sector is in for a big leap with the municipal corporation tying up with a Calcutta-based hospital to build a new facility at Gadakana as well as upgrade five peripheral dispensaries run by the civic body here.

The first step was taken today with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the KPC Group to build the multi-specialty hospital and also revamp the five health centres.

In August, the corporation had approached the KPC Group, which runs a medical college-cum-1,000-bed hospital in Calcutta's Jadavpur, to become a partner in its ambitious heath care project.

The KPC Group was sought out after a Delhi-based medical institute backed out of the project in April over proposed additional facilities.

World Bank's International Financial Corporation is the consultant for the project. Their experts, who were present here today, are advising both the partners on execution of the project.

Chairman of the KPC Group Kali Chaudhuri, an orthopaedic surgeon settled in California, US, was here today to sign the MoU. He said: "The model adopted by the civic body in having a group of primary and secondary health care centres around a tertiary or multi-specialty hospital will be beneficial to the people. We believe in a similar model and are convinced that it would be a better thing for the people."

Chaudhuri, who was in the city after a gap of several decades and found the atmosphere here investor-friendly, said: "We will take some time to settle down and then work in a planned manner to finish the project. Patients from the peripheral units will come to the upgraded corporation hospital and then if required they would come to the Gadakana facility."

Housing and urban development minister Pushpendra Singh Deo said: "According to a survey, Odisha has emerged as one of the favoured destinations for investors among all states in India. The project will definitely help the needy and those falling under below poverty line (BPL) as there would be 188 free beds.''

Municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar, who signed the MoU on behalf of the corporation, said: "The project will be completed in phases and it will be over in 10 years. The development of primary health centres of Bharatpur, Gadakana, GGP Colony (Rasulgarh), Brahmeswar Patna and Kapilaprasad will be taken up first.''

Gadakana councillor Sanjay Kumar Sethi said: "The ward has the largest number (23) of colonies in the city, including both government and private ones. This multi-specialty facility will definitely help residents of nearby areas and beyond."

Resident Kshetramohan Nanda of Pokhran Enclave said: "The multi-specialty hospital should have all departments to help urban patients as diabetic, renal, cardiological and neurological diseases are on the rise due to stress in day-to-day life."

The BPL patients, who will come for treatment at the facility, will get support from the State Treatment Fund and the Centre's Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.