Public notices at Noida’s Super Speciality Paediatric Hospital, warning visitors to maintain a safe distance, highlight serious issues with the building’s condition. According to the hospital’s director, the stone slabs’ screw bolts on all towers and residential buildings have loosened, causing significant structural problems.
The 240-bed facility, which spans 50,000 sqm in Sector 30, is the sole government hospital in Noida specializing in pediatric cancer treatment and serves as a critical resource for the Delhi-NCR region, as well as for patients from Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. On a daily basis, around 150 children visit the outpatient department.
During a recent visit by The Indian Express, various problems were evident: water was leaking from the ceiling into the visitors’ room, the washrooms were in poor condition with a strong odor reaching the visitors’ area, and only four out of eleven elevators were operational. Additionally, the clean drinking water dispenser was out of order, and rats were seen roaming the premises.
Two weeks ago, part of the false ceiling in the children’s NICU collapsed, prompting the area to be temporarily blocked off with steel chairs.
Dr. Arun Kumar Singh, the hospital director, described the building as being in a “dilapidated condition” due to faulty construction quality and planning. He explained that sewage water from the basement is pumped to the ground floor, resulting in significant leakage and damage.
The hospital, built by the Noida Authority in 2015 and inaugurated by former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, has faced ongoing issues despite raising concerns with the relevant department a year ago. Dr. Singh reported that after submitting a map, officials requested proof of adherence to the construction plan, a request he found unreasonable.
Dr. Singh noted that the hospital’s annual maintenance budget is approximately Rs 10 to 15 crore, covering various operational needs.
Families of patients at the hospital expressed their distress over the conditions. Vishakha Sharma, a 24-year-old mother from Khoda, Ghaziabad, said, “It is scary to be here. But I am here for the sake of my child. It feels like this building might fall any time.” Her one-month-old daughter has been admitted for breathing difficulties.
Gautam Chaudhary, 27, who has been at the hospital with his three-month-old son for nearly a month, described the situation: “The smell in the visitors’ room is unbearable. The washrooms are flooded, and the AC has not been functioning the entire time I’ve been here.”
Sima Chauhan, 21, from Noida’s Sector 49, added, “Nobody would stay inside this building if they had an option. My one-month-old girl is admitted here. Nothing works here. The lifts are defunct, and water keeps dripping from the ceiling.”
An official reported that sewage water has been leaking from the roof for the past two years, and despite numerous complaints, no improvements have been made.
