New Delhi, Oct 29 Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Thursday reviewed cleanliness, sanitation and waste management initiatives at AIIMS, Delhi and inspected a newly-constructed shelter facility designed to accommodate nearly 900 patients and their attendants.
The shelter facility, built by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, is proposed to be used as an Aashray shelter to provide safe, weather-protected accommodation to 897 patients and attendants, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who travel to the national capital for treatment.
The newly-constructed patient waiting lounge at the AIIMS Trauma Centre extension campus has a built-up area of 2,970 sq m and includes primary and secondary waiting areas, ramps, toilets and other ancillary facilities, a health ministry statement said.
The proposed shelter is expected to provide a permanent, covered alternative to temporary tent-based arrangements and reduce the need for patients and their attendants to rest in open areas around the hospital, the statement said.
AIIMS currently operates Aashray as a 24-hour humanitarian shelter, particularly for patients and attendants arriving from outside Delhi.
During his visit, Nadda was briefed on the institute’s initiatives under the Swachhata Abhiyan, with a focus on sanitation, waste management and maintenance of hospital premises.
AIIMS has adopted several measures to improve cleanliness, including mechanised cleaning, dedicated sanitation staff for emergency and outpatient department toilets, end-of-day cleaning of OPD areas, regular training of sanitation workers and monitoring of cleaning supplies and equipment, the statement said.
The institute has also undertaken measures to conserve water and energy. Its 11 wastewater treatment plants facilitate the reuse of around 19.6 lakh litres of treated wastewater daily for horticulture, according to the statement.
Energy-saving measures, including optimised air-conditioning and switching off equipment when not in use, have reduced electricity consumption by 7.68 lakh units, or 10.5 per cent. Electricity expenditure was around Rs 1.98 crore lower during January-October 2025 than in the corresponding period in 2024, officials said.
To promote sustainable mobility, AIIMS operates 40 free electric-vehicle shuttle services within the campus for patients and attendants. The campus also has 30 EV chargers and 114 dedicated power points across four locations, the statement said.
Nadda also interacted with sanitation workers and acknowledged their contribution to maintaining cleanliness and hygiene at the hospital.
The visit highlighted the importance of sustained cleanliness measures, efficient waste management and improved patient amenities in public healthcare institutions.
(PTI News)
