Begusarai: After a prolonged delay of 16 years, the sub-divisional hospital in Manjhaul, located in the Cheria Bariyarpur assembly constituency of Begusarai, is set to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on January 18, during the third phase of the Pragati Yatra. The hospital’s inauguration is part of a larger plan in which Kumar will launch and lay the foundation for nearly 630 schemes, valued at over 600 crores, across the region.
The sub-divisional hospital, which will provide 75 beds, has been a long-awaited project. Its foundation stone was originally laid in 2008 by the then Health Minister Chandra Mohan Rai, but construction faced multiple delays. What began as a project with an initial estimated cost of Rs. 4.91 lakh ballooned to Rs. 12 crore by its completion.
Preparations are underway for the inauguration, with significant arrangements being made, including the construction of two helipads at Shatabdi ground. Local authorities have also erected bamboo barricades to manage crowds. Once operational, the hospital is expected to provide vital healthcare services to residents of Sudurvorti Chaurahi, Khodavandpur, Cheria Bariyarpur, Garhpura, and Naokothi blocks.
A Long Road to Completion
The idea for the hospital emerged from the deteriorating condition of the referral hospital in Manjhaul. In 2007, Chandra Mohan Rai, who hailed from Manjhaul, took up the cause after being approached by local residents. Following efforts from Rai’s maternal grandfather, land was allocated for the hospital, and the foundation stone was laid in 2008. At the time, Anil Chaudhary was the local MLA, and the project began with considerable enthusiasm.
However, progress faltered after Chaudhary lost the 2010 election to JDU’s Manju Verma. Under Verma’s tenure, work on the hospital stagnated, with multiple contractors abandoning the project and disputes over land halting progress. Despite these setbacks, the project was revived in 2015-16, with the cost rising to Rs. 9 crore. Yet, construction once again ceased due to lack of political will.
In 2020, Rajvanshi Mahato, the new MLA from Cheria Bariyarpur, took the initiative to address the hospital’s stalled construction. Mahato raised the matter in the state assembly, and the hospital’s completion was prioritized in the subsequent years, leading to its finalization ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
A Political and Public Struggle
Local resident Mahesh Bharti, while welcoming the new hospital, lamented the long delay, suggesting that the hospital had become a victim of political infighting. He remarked that the hospital’s troubled history was a painful chapter for the region, with little action from public representatives until Mahato’s involvement.
Ramjivan Singh, a former MP and Agriculture Minister, expressed relief over the hospital’s imminent opening, praising Nitish Kumar’s development-focused approach. Singh noted that public representatives must take the initiative in addressing such issues, stressing that the indifference of past representatives had contributed to the hospital’s prolonged delays.
A Symbol of Delayed Development
The sub-divisional hospital project has been a contentious issue for years, particularly during election cycles. While the project was initially sanctioned by the state government in 2007, the political volatility in the region slowed its progress. Election year promises and shifting political loyalties led to multiple revisions of the funds allocated for the hospital, ultimately inflating its cost and pushing its completion far beyond its original timeline.
Despite the delays, the opening of the hospital marks a significant milestone for the people of Manjhaul and its surrounding areas, who have long struggled with inadequate healthcare facilities. With its inauguration, the hospital will provide much-needed medical services to these rural communities, transforming a once-neglected project into a symbol of development.
