The Bengal health department has approved some of the projects drawn up by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for improving medical infrastructure in the Darjeeling hills.

Arun Sigchi, the executive of the health and family welfare department of the GTA, said new health sub-centres would be set up, existing facilities at the Darjeeling District Hospital would be upgraded and a hospital in a tea garden in the Mirik subdivision would be taken over by the hill body.

“We have received administrative approval for the projects and funds of around Rs three crore have been sanctioned for the improvement of the district hospital in Darjeeling. The existing outdoor unit will be upgraded by spending Rs one crore while a similar amount would be used for the complete renovation of the roof of the present building. A sum of Rs 88 lakh will be spent on revamping its sewage system,” Sigchi said on Tuesday.

The GTA, he said, will also upgrade a health centre at Sevoke, which is around 25km from Siliguri. As of now, there is a sub-health centre in Sevoke which will be upgraded to a primary health centre (PHC) with indoor and outdoor healthcare facilities.

“We are taking over the health centre on Tingling tea estate (near Mirik) and will improve the infrastructure so that it functions like a PHC. There will be outdoor facilities and indoor accommodations with at least 10 beds at this hospital,” said Sigchi.

As a part of the plan, the GTA has notified that 41 new health sub-centres will be established in rural areas of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. A source said around Rs 50 lakh would be spent on each of these sub-centres. "These centres will provide services related to mother and child care, safe delivery, immunisation, primary medical care and registration of birth and deaths,” the source said.