The trauma care centre on the Balasore district headquarters hospital premises. Telegraph picture

Balasore, March 10: A trauma care centre on the district headquarters hospital premises has turned out to be a non-starter.

Although, chief minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the project two-and-half years ago, it is yet to start functioning.

“The project was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013. But it was not finished because of various factors,” said T. Narayan Rao, district project manager of National Rural Health Mission.

“The construction and electrification work have already been completed. The work for installation of elevators is going on,” he said.

The central government had funded the project for strengthening of emergency facilities at the government-run hospitals located along the national highways.

“Almost five years have passed after its sanction, the project is yet to get over and start operating,” said Laxmidhar Behera, convener of the Senior Citizens’ Forum.

“The unit will prove to be a boon for trauma patients of neighbouring districts and states,” he said.

In 2008 May, the Centre released Rs 80 lakh for implementation of the centrally-sponsored scheme. Naveen had laid the foundation stone at a grand event on January 14, 2010.

The hospital authorities attributed the changes in the initial plan that led to the delay. “The delay was due to alternation and approval of a fresh plan,” said Debasis Nayak, assistant engineer of the NRHM.

“Although the construction has been completed, yet there is a requirement of another Rs 8 crore for purchase of equipment. Besides there is a need of at least three surgery specialists, one orthopaedic surgeon and one anaesthesia specialist and support staff members to run the unit. These requirements are yet to be fulfilled,” said Anup Ghosh, chief district medical officer.