Rajnath: Army boosted country’s morale during border row with China
Lucknow, Jan. 16: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the Indian Army has boosted the morale of the country and also enabled the people to hold their heads high during the border standoff with China.
He said this while addressing a gathering here during the ‘bhoomipujan’ and foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Command Hospital.
“The charismatic (karishmaayi) performance by the Army during the India-China standoff has boosted the morale of the country and also enabled the citizens to hold their heads high,” he said, drawing a thunderous applause from the crowd.
Singh said the construction of the New Command Hospital building addresses a long standing need of the people and commended the authorities for relocating rather than cutting trees while clearing land for it.
He said he was confident of the full cooperation of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in this regard.
Adityanath appreciated the close coordination between the armed forces and civil authorities in Covid management. He said this was essential in protecting Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the crisis.
He assured full support of the state authorities in providing better health services through projects like this hospital.
Army chief General
M.M. Naravane was also present at the programme.
The new building of Command Hospital is spread over 40 acre of land and will be built at an estimated cost of `425 crore. The building will have six blocks of four wings varying from three to nine storeys. All blocks are inter-connected with skyways independent of the main patient activity areas. The building complex will also have space for parking of 750 cars in addition to vertical circulation in the form of adequate numbers of elevators and ramps.
The hospital was raised in 1859 and designated as Command Hospital (Central Command) in 1967. The building of the new Command Hospital was approved by the Chief of the Army Staff in 2018.