Ctg Development Authority warns private hospitals over building plan violations, summons top 5 institutions

The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) yesterday (30 July) warned private hospitals to remove unauthorised structures and restore designated parking spaces within one month or face legal action.

The directives were issued following inspections of five hospitals in the Mehedibagh and Panchlaish areas led by CDA Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain.

The authorities of National Hospital, Max Hospital, Aristocare Hospital, Epic Hospital, and Popular Hospital have been summoned to appear at the CDA office next Monday with their approved building plans and all relevant official documents.

"If visible progress is not made within one month by removing structures built outside the approved plans, strict legal and administrative action will be taken in the public interest," he said.

According to the CDA, inspections found widespread violations of approved building plans, with designated parking areas converted into washing plants, prayer rooms, and commercial shops, while the remaining spaces were occupied by doctors' vehicles, worsening traffic congestion in the area.

Epic Hospital committed the most serious violations, operating from a residential building while deviating from its approved design, occupying its emergency driveway and parking area with commercial shops, and lacking an effective fire safety system.

As a result, the CDA ordered the immediate closure of all activities at the hospital's extension building.

At National Hospital, inspectors found only 28 of the 50 approved parking spaces, while the rest had been occupied by a washing plant and other unauthorised structures.

Hospital authorities pledged to remove the washing plant within a month, create 35 parking spaces, and acquire adjacent land to expand parking capacity.

The CDA found that Popular Hospital had expanded into the mandatory 40-foot open space and connected an adjacent multi-story building without approved plans or legal documents.

Aristocare Hospital, meanwhile, was found to be operating as a full-fledged hospital despite being approved only as a residential building and without obtaining a Land Use Clearance.

The authority said it had previously issued a notice under Section 3B, but the hospital had not taken corrective action.

Inspectors also found that Max Hospital had failed to provide parking facilities for patients, with the available space occupied by doctors' vehicles, unauthorised prayer rooms and other permanent structures.