There is a difference between building infrastructure and making it work. 

A hospital may have modern equipment, specialist doctors and dependable electricity, but its usefulness begins much earlier, on the road an ambulance must take to reach its gate. 

At Kakapora, this needs attention as work begins on the proposed Medicity at Lelhar.

The project deserves support. Better medical facilities could spare families long journeys for specialised treatment, create jobs and bring new economic activity to the area. Its success, however, will depend partly on decisions being made outside the hospital complex, particularly along the already congested Pampore-Pulwama road.

The concern begins with a simple observation. 

New electric poles have recently been installed along a stretch of road that local residents have long wanted widened. The poles are reportedly intended to provide a dedicated electricity supply to the Medicity. 

Reliable power is essential for a medical institution, so is adequate road access. The question is whether the two requirements have been planned together.

The road through Kakapora is approximately 18 feet wide, according to my local observation. Traffic jams are common, and vehicles struggle to pass through the available space. A functioning Medicity will bring ambulances, patients, attendants, medical staff and supply vehicles. The additional movement will place further demands on a road already struggling with existing traffic.

An ambulance heading towards a hospital cannot make up for minutes lost in congestion simply because the destination has excellent facilities. The quality of healthcare depends partly on how quickly patients can reach........

© Kashmir Observer