Demolition begins at a 120-year-old general hospital structure on the Patna Medical College and Hospital campus as a bulldozer started tearing down the north wing on Monday, a site once visited by Mahatma Gandhi in May 1947.
Historic edifice slated for removal
The two‑storey former General Hospital, erected around 1904, featured Doric columns and a British‑era lift. Its ground floor once housed the superintendent’s office; the upper level contained an operating theatre that Gandhi observed during a family surgery. The architecture blended colonial motifs with early‑twentieth‑century medical design, making the building a visual record of the era.
Originally part of the Prince of Wales Medical College founded in 1925, the structure evolved from the Temple Medical School of 1874. The campus, perched on the Ganga’s banks, has long been a landmark of Bihar’s medical education, drawing students from distant villages and major cities alike.
Alumni and heritage advocates raise concerns
Former students, heritage enthusiasts, and Gandhi followers have repeatedly asked the state government to preserve the iconic edifice as a reminder of the institution’s past. Their appeals have so far been rejected, prompting public statements and petitions that cite cultural loss.
Dr. Satyajeet Kumar Singh, former head of the alumni association, urged the health minister to protect “few heritage sites” during a ceremony marking the college’s 97th anniversary. He cited the historic plaque installed in 1927 as a reason to retain the structure, noting that the inscription records the early contributions of medical pioneers.
Alumni now scattered across the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries voiced disappointment that preservation “has not been factored” into the redevelopment agenda. They highlighted that many graduates feel a personal connection to the old wards, describing the building as a living museum of their training.
Redevelopment plan moves forward
The state launched a mega‑revamp in February 2021, when the chief minister laid the foundation stone for a new complex. The proposal calls for a 5,462‑bed hospital built at an estimated Rs 5,540 crore, to be completed over seven years in phases. The design includes modern operating theatres, intensive‑care units, and research laboratories that meet international standards.
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All wards and the superintendent’s office have already been relocated to newer blocks that opened over the past two years. The old hostel adjacent to the hospital was demolished a few months earlier, shortly after the college’s 101st anniversary, clearing space for future construction.
Compared with previous upgrades that retained some colonial‑era elements, this project removes a larger portion of the original fabric, mirroring debates at other historic medical campuses where modernization competes with conservation.
Progress on site and future outlook
Workers have spent recent weeks extracting doors and windows from the structure before the bulldozer entered the site. The demolition proceeds in phases, aligning with the broader campus redevelopment schedule. Each step is coordinated to minimize disruption to ongoing medical services elsewhere on the grounds.
Officials say the new facilities will improve patient care and expand capacity, but critics argue the loss of heritage diminishes the cultural legacy of the college. They warn that erasing physical reminders may weaken community identity linked to the institution’s storied past.
The demolition of the north wing marks the latest step in a transformation that began with the removal of the old boys’ hostel and will continue until the full high‑rise complex stands on the historic grounds.
The work continues daily.
