MP Ajay Bhatt Inspects Under-Construction 100-Bed Mental Hospital in Gaethia
MP Ajay Bhatt reviewed the ongoing construction of Kumaon’s first state-of-the-art 100-bed mental hospital in Gaethia, near Bhimtal. Built at a cost of ₹44 crore, the hospital is expected to be completed by 2026.
Healthcare in the hills is changing—and it's about time. On a quiet Sunday in Gaethia near Bhimtal, something significant was underway. Member of Parliament and former Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, visited the construction site of Kumaon’s first 100-bed modern mental hospital. The facility, pegged at a cost of ₹44 crore, is being built inside the old sanatorium campus and is expected to be ready by 2026.
Ajay Bhatt didn’t just stop by. He came with intent. During the inspection, he gave strict instructions that the construction work must be of high quality and meet all required standards. The idea is simple: Kumaon doesn’t just need a hospital—it needs one that’s dependable, modern, and capable of handling mental healthcare with dignity and efficiency.
Once completed, this hospital will be a game changer for the region. Currently, families across Kumaon struggle to find mental health facilities nearby. They often have to travel long distances or settle for sub-par care. With this centre in place, not only Nainital district but the entire Kumaon region will have access to in-house mental healthcare, diagnostics, and rehab under one roof.
The executing agency informed the MP that the hospital is expected to be completed by 2026. Bhatt stressed the importance of speeding up the pace without compromising quality. He also called on local representatives and public officials to keep a close watch on the work progress to avoid delays or lapses.
Present during the inspection were several key local figures—MLA Sarita Arya, Block Chief Dr. Harish Singh Bisht, BJP leaders Himanshu Bisht, Nitin Karki, Amit Pandey, Pankaj Aditi, and others. Their presence wasn’t just ceremonial; it symbolised political will coming together for a cause that’s been long neglected in the hills: mental health.
For a region like Kumaon, often left behind in specialised medical care, this hospital represents more than just infrastructure—it’s a statement. A statement that mental health matters. That patients deserve treatment close to home. That mountains may be remote, but the services they get shouldn't be.
Bhatt summed it up simply: this is not just a project, it's a promise—for better healthcare, for quicker help, and for a future where mental illness isn’t treated with silence but with support.
