Telangana HC directs state govt, other respondents to file counter to PIL challenging construction of new Osmania General Hospital within 2 weeks

Indian Express

11-07-2025

The Telangana High Court Friday directed notices to be issued to the state government, district collector, city police commissioner and municipal authorities, among others, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the construction of new Osmania General Hospital (OGH) at the Goshamahal stadium in Hyderabad.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara was hearing the PIL, which claimed that the said land parcel identified for the new hospital complex is declared in the layout as parkland and open spaces.
Senior Counsel L Ravichander, representing Goshamahal resident Gundolu Ramu, contended that the current law forbids construction on open parks and stadiums unless it directly supports the primary function of the space.
Ravichander emphasised that the proposed new construction would lead to the felling of countless trees, disrupting the existing ecosystem and community within the vicinity.
The bench asked the respondents to file their counter within two weeks for interim relief.
Construction of the new OGH building was a promise made by the ruling Congress in their manifesto for the Telangana Assembly elections.
The need for a new hospital in the old city arose from the fact that the current hospital has become dilapidated and insufficient to meet the needs of modern healthcare.
The government plans to build a state-of-the-art facility, with a capacity of 2,000 beds, estimated at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore. The foundation stone was laid on January 31, 2025, and the government plans to open the hospital to the public in two and a half years.
Rahul V Pisharody is an Assistant Editor with the Indian Express Online and has been reporting from Telangana on various issues since 2019. Besides a focused approach to big news developments, Rahul has a keen interest in stories about Hyderabad and its inhabitants and looks out for interesting features on the city's heritage, environment, history culture etc. His articles are straightforward and simple reads in sync with the context.
Rahul started his career as a journalist in 2011 with The New Indian Express and worked in different roles at the Hyderabad bureau for over 8 years. As Deputy Metro Editor, he was in charge of the Hyderabad bureau of the newspaper and coordinated with the team of district correspondents, centres and internet desk for over three years.
A native of Palakkad in Kerala, Rahul has a Master's degree in Communication (Print and New Media) from the University of Hyderabad and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore. Long motorcycle rides and travel photography are among his other interests. ... Read More