A new MRI and CT scan centre will be established near Mangal Talab in Patna to provide more affordable diagnostic services to devotees visiting Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib and to poor and middle-class families in the city and surrounding areas.
The Bihar government and the management committee of Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday evening for the establishment and operation of the Char Sahibzade MRI, CT Scan Centre. Additional chief secretary Deepak Kumar signed the agreement on behalf of the state government.
The proposed facility is intended to address the high cost of MRI and CT scan services, which can make advanced diagnostic care difficult to access for families relying on private hospitals. The centre will also serve devotees visiting the historic shrine, according to the information released about the project.
The proposal was initiated by Mumbai-based Sardar Gurvinder Singh Bawa, president of Chief Khalsa Diwan Maharashtra. The management committee said the project was developed in response to the need for more accessible diagnostic facilities for both visitors and local residents.
“Today, one of the biggest problems for people is medical expenses. MRI rates are soaring in private hospitals, but we are finding a way for poor and middle-class families,” said Gurvindar Singh, vice-president of the Takht Patna Sahib management committee.
The committee had earlier approached the governor seeking land for the project. Land near Mangal Talab was subsequently made available, after which the foundation stone for the centre was laid. The site places the proposed diagnostic facility close to Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib and the surrounding residential areas.
Committee president Jagjot Singh Sohi, general secretary Inderjit Singh and vice-president Gurvindar Singh thanked the governor for supporting the project. They also acknowledged Bawa’s role in initiating the proposal.
The MoU establishes the administrative basis for setting up and operating the centre, but the report does not specify the facility’s construction cost, equipment capacity, diagnostic charges, staffing arrangements or opening date. These details will determine how quickly the project becomes operational and how significantly it expands access to advanced imaging services in Patna.
Once established, the centre is expected to serve two overlapping groups: the sangat visiting the shrine and residents from Patna and nearby areas who require MRI or CT scans. The next stages will involve implementing the agreement and completing the facility near Mangal Talab.
