Rajkot: Shree Khodaldham Trust (SKT), an organization for the Leuva Patel community, will be building a hospital and a cancer research center in Amreli village of Padadhari taluka of Rajkot, the groundbreaking ceremony for which will take place in January next year.

During a press conference, SKT chairman Naresh Patel and spokesperson Hasmukh Lunagariya disclosed that the foundation stone for the 200-bed hospital would be laid in Amreli village on January 21. The facility is designed to include amenities for palliative care, daycare, lodging for patients’ relatives, and a dedicated cancer research center.

Patel emphasized that the hospital would be inclusive, with no community-specific facilities or charges. He encouraged people of all communities to consider the project as their own, expressing openness to donations from various groups. The hospital’s groundbreaking on January 21, 2024, will coincide with the seventh patotsava, or anniversary, of Khodaldham, a goddess Khodiyar temple constructed by SKT in Kagvad village.

Pravin Jasani, an SKT trustee, emphasized the need for a high-quality cancer treatment facility in the Saurashtra region, which currently lacks such amenities, causing residents to travel to other cities for treatment.

To raise awareness about the hospital project, the SKT chairman would undertake a ‘Sankalp Yatra’ or march, starting from Somnath temple near Veraval on December 17. The yatra, spanning approximately two weeks, will cover various districts in Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra. During this journey, the chairman aims to inform people about the hospital project, seek their support, and invite them to be part of the initiative.

Lunagariya also shared details about the estimated cost of the hospital’s first phase, which includes 200 beds and associated facilities, amounting to around Rs 250 crore. SKT is currently seeking donations, particularly through ‘Bhumidaan’ (land donation) at Rs 2,500 per square yard, with the funds earmarked for the hospital’s development. The organization is consulting with top professionals to ensure the success of the hospital project. DeshGujarat