Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma dedicated a 20-bed Cardiology ICU to the service of the patients at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital on August 24 during the last day of his three-day visit to Barak Valley.
During his visit, he took stock of the ongoing construction of the 535-bed emergency building, which will become an annexe to the current structure. With the completion of the new emergency building which is likely to be inaugurated in November next year, the total bed capacity of the hospital will go up to around 1,885 from the existing 1,350 including ICU beds.
Dr. Sarma said that another building will be constructed on the college premises with a 1000-bed capacity. Additionally, the Chief Minister evaluated the hospital’s ancillary services, including staff vacancies, considering the needs for the next 10 years. He further directed PWD (Building) officials to prepare a master plan for the hospital’s future expansion.
Dr. Sarma also attended the closing ceremony of the 150th anniversary of the Cachar District Bar Association on the same day.
Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the historical significance of the Indian judicial system, stating that India, as the mother of democracy, has a judiciary which is one of its fundamental pillars. He acknowledged the contributions of key figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Rajendra Prasad, and others who used their legal expertise to mobilize public opinion against colonial rule.
Underlining India’s goal to create a legal system rooted in its cultural heritage and the ideals of the freedom struggle, the Chief Minister stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s legal framework has undergone significant transformation with the introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
The Chief Minister while addressing a meeting at Rabindra Bhawan in Hailakandi on August 23 announced that a medical college will be established in the district before the coming Assembly election in early 2026. Dr Sarma said that the Hailakandi District Commissioner has been instructed to find a suitable location for the medical college’s construction.
