Vij informed that in this regard, a letter has been sent to him by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare J.P. Nadda. Notably, the letter stated that instructions have been given to the concerned Central agency, CPWD, to complete the construction of this branch within 18 months.
The Energy Minister said that recently the first installment of Rs. 1.39 crore has already been released to CPWD. Significantly, the NCDC branch at Ambala Cantonment is being constructed at a cost of approximately Rs. 17 crore.
Sh. Vij said that at the NCDC being set up in Naggal, Ambala Cantonment Assembly constituency, there will not only be facilities for conducting tests for various diseases but also research on diseases will be carried out, which will benefit people from Haryana, other states, and across the world.
He added that this branch is being established on over 4 acres of land so that along with tests, research on various diseases can also be undertaken. Once opened, this branch will be able to conduct tests related to different diseases for Haryana as well as for seven neighboring states. With the NCDC branch coming up at Ambala Cantonment, people from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, and others will have easy access to testing for various diseases.
Sh. Vij further said that the first phase of work for the construction of the NCDC branch has already begun. As per NCDC provisions, a laboratory will be built and CPWD is working on it. It is notable that Ambala Cantonment was chosen for the NCDC branch because it is well connected by air, railway junction and road network. Additionally, the Atal Cancer Care Centre, Civil Hospital Ambala Cantonment, and three medical colleges are located nearby, from where regular samples can be collected.
Importantly, the NCDC branch will help in detecting, controlling and preventing new infectious diseases such as Ebola virus disease (2014), Pandemic Influenza A H1N1 (2009–10), and the SARS outbreak. The branch will also work on detecting, treating and preventing outbreaks of air, water and food-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A & E, chickenpox, and measles.
Ground Floor – Reception, waiting area room, lobby, conference hall, admin office, security room, IT video room, Head of NCDC’s office, and other administrative offices.
First Floor – Sample collection & utility room, waiting room, lobby, climate change room, EOC room, training room, IDSP, epidemiology staff room, pantry, and other rooms.
Second Floor – Laboratories and other equipment, including climate change room, macro lab bacteriology, AMR lab, lab teaching & demo room, AMR officer room, virology lab, lobby, and other rooms.
Third Floor – Non-BSL lab area, BSL-2 lab area, staff common room, open terrace, pantry, and other rooms. The entire building will also have two lifts.
