Cuttack, Feb. 3: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several projects during his whirlwind tour to the city.

He laid the foundation stone for a new multi-specialty block at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, popularly known as Sishu Bhavan.

The new building is part of the hospital's proposed expansion that aims to increase its capacity from the current 416 beds to 600 beds. It would also include 50 intensive care units, 30 beds under the high dependency unit, a 60-bed surgical unit, an outpatient department complex and a casualty ward.

"The new building is an ambitious project, which would provide emergency and allied services to patients under one roof. The entire project is expected to cost around Rs 107 crore," said hospital superintendent Saroj Satpathy.

He said the state government had earmarked Rs 10 crore for purchasing the advanced equipment to start various specialised treatments such as haemodialysis and other diagnostic facilities, including CT scan, endoscopy and laparoscopic surgeries.

The building will also have a separate waiting room with 60 beds for women attendants, breast-feeding rooms as well as three operation theatres, lecture and teaching rooms for undergraduate and postgraduate students to fulfil the Medical Council of India norms.

Police made tight security arrangements for the chief minister's visit in light of recent egg attacks on ministers. Incidentally, Banki MLA Pravat Tripathy, who had been suspended from the party following his arrest in connection with the money deposit scam, was present at the function in Banki to inaugurate a high-level bridge over the Mahanadi river.

The 2,077-metre Jatamundia-Sonepur bridge project was scheduled to get completed in 2011. However, it got delayed due to technical errors and mishaps in the past two years.

Villagers, especially of six gram panchayats under Banki subdivision, had long demanded a high-level bridge.

The residents had to cover nearly 9km extra to travel via Mundali. The distance is now likely to be shortened by nearly 3km.

Road connectivity between Banki and Khurda will also be shortened by nearly 20km and the bridge will act as a connecting link between Banki and Athgarh as well.

Naveen also inaugurated two hostels - Mahanadi (for girls) and Lalitgiri (for boys) - at the Ravenshaw University, a workshop, an academic block of the Bhubanananda Engineering School, an indoor stadium in Banki and the advanced linear accelerator facility for cancer treatment at the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre. The estimated cost of installing the advanced devices is Rs 50 crore. These high-end machines can identify damaged cells and apply radiotherapy to kill cancerous cells without harming the healthy cells.