Rs. 75 crore Outpatient Department facilities to strengthen regional healthcare hub
Mysore/Mysuru: Founded and built by Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar with the vision of providing free healthcare to poor, Mysuru’s Doddaspathre — K.R. Hospital — is set to witness a major infrastructure upgrade.
A modern multi-storey Outpatient Department (OPD) complex will soon come up within the historic hospital premises to cater to the growing healthcare needs of the region.
K.R. Hospital serves not only Mysuru city and district but also receives a large influx of patients from neighbouring districts such as Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Hassan and Mandya.
With mounting pressure on existing outpatient and inpatient services, the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI) proposed the construction of a new OPD Block to bring multiple healthcare services under one roof and improve patient convenience.
Rs. 75 crore project gets Government nod
Recognising the urgent requirement, the Karnataka Government approved the proposal in the previous year’s Budget and allocated Rs. 75 crore for the project. The funds have since been released and construction activities are expected to commence shortly.
Following a tender process, the Health and Family Welfare Department awarded the project to Bengaluru-based Star Infratech. The company will construct a G+3 structure with a total built-up area of 12,840 square metres.
The new complex will be located between the Stone Building, the IPD-OPD block, the Pharmacy store and the Radiology wing within the hospital campus.
Heritage clearance awaited
As part of the preparatory work, an old U-shaped VIP special ward building that was in a dilapidated condition has already been demolished and the site has been handed over to the contractor. Construction will begin after the rerouting of the existing MRI cable line.
Given that K.R. Hospital is a heritage structure, the contractor has sought clearance from the District Heritage Committee. The approval is expected shortly, though it is likely to be granted with specific conditions to protect the heritage character of the campus.
Facilities planned in the OPD Complex
The lower ground floor, spread across 3,300 square metres, will house radiology services including Computed Tomography Scan (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-ray facilities, a pharmacy store, material store, blower room, LT panel and Medical Gas Pipeline System (MGPS) facilities.
The upper ground floor, covering 3,110 square metres, will include a central registration counter, waiting hall, medicine OPDs, pharmacy, emergency wards with 9 beds for men and 8 for women, emergency observation units with similar bed strength, a six-bed post-operative ward and a major operation theatre.
The first floor, measuring 3,090 square metres, will accommodate dental, venereology, leprosy and dermatology departments, along with a central laboratory. The second floor will also span 3,090 square metres and will feature nine single deluxe wards, 30 semi-special wards and seven VIP suites.
The new OPD complex will be equipped with advanced fire safety systems, high-capacity lifts capable of carrying 20 persons or a patient bed, CCTV surveillance, nurse call systems, UPS backup, audio-visual systems, solar power units and integrated telephone and networking facilities, significantly enhancing healthcare delivery at the historic institution.
A long-awaited project
K.R. Hospital, built by the erstwhile rulers of Mysore, has long been under mounting pressure in its Outpatient Department. There was an urgent need for a well-organised and spacious OPD facility. With the Government sanctioning funds for this long-awaited project, the institution has taken up the construction of a modern Centenary OPD Complex at K.R. Hospital, marking its hundred-year legacy. Once completed, the new facility will enable patients from Mysuru and surrounding regions to access quality healthcare under one roof. — Dr. K.R. Dakshayani, Dean and Director, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute
This post was published on December 25, 2025 6:41 pm