Bhubaneswar: Capital Hospital administration has identified an under-utilised land behind its premises to extend the institution and build the proposed post-graduate institute.

Hospital director Pradip Kumar Acharya wrote to works department's principal secretary that there were some old vacant quarters of medical officers and other medical employees situated behind the hospital campus that could be used for extension of the institute.

"I request you to examine the status of those old buildings and take necessary action to demolish them for construction of the PG institute," Acharya wrote, requesting chief engineer, civil, SR Sethi for further action.

In 2013, it was decided to convert Capital Hospital into a post- graduate institute. However, the project couldn't take off for unavailability of land. The hospital is built on 20 acres and there is requirement of another five acres to accommodate the institute.

A senior works department engineer told The Telegraph that the basic designs and drawings for the project was lying ready since 2015, but they had failed to identify land for it.

He said even if the old quarters were demolished, there would be a need of over four acres of land for the project. "We will take the request of the director into consideration and will free the land after due procedure. We are also planning to demolish a few other quarters in the area to meet the land demand," he said.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhuban-eswar Municipal Corporation along with Commissionerate Police had made repeated attempts to evict encroachers but had to backtrack in the face of stiff opposition from local residents. Most of the land is occupied by unauthorised slums dwellers.

"The administration tried to evict us but we are opposed to it as there is no rehabilitation package. We will cooperate if we get alternative accommodation," said Minati Jena, a slum dweller.