Bhubaneswar, Dec. 30: The Capital Hospital authorities today demolished nine shops scattered around its campus after the shop owners refused to move into the utility complex, despite the authorities giving them several reminders. However, three medicine shops operating from different places on the premises were left untouched as they had got a stay order from the high court.

The utility complex on the premises of the hospital had been constructed six years ago. Health minister Damodar Rout inaugurated it on December 3 this year. The shop-owners had been opposing the small size of the rooms on the utility complex, citing it would not help them store their commodities. Out of 12 rooms, only three had been allotted.

The authorities demolished two hotels, a telephone booth, two fruit shops and some betel shops on the campus.

Sudarshan Dash, chief medical officer of the hospital, said they had given several reminders to these shop-owners to shift their establishments to the complex.

“But they did not shift their shops. The government has some new plans to extend the hospital facilities and needed free space for construction. Unless these shops are shifted, these projects will be delayed. So, we took the help of police and removed these shops. Now, they can go to their allotted rooms in the complex,” said Dash.

The space created with the removal of the shops would be used for building a new casualty ward and trauma centre. Sources said around Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned for this purpose.