By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: On Saturday, four shops, including the 103-year-old Noorani Dispensary, were demolished in front of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for the construction of a metro station near PMCH on Ashok Rajpath. The structure was demolished in about one and a half hours using JCB machines employed in the Patna Metro construction work.
During the demolition, a large number of police personnel, along with officials from the district administration, DMRC, and Patna Metro, were present. A huge crowd gathered to witness the demolition of the century-old Noorani Dispensary. Vigilance was maintained to prevent any untoward incidents. Along with Noorani Dispensary, Steelo, Panama Medico, and one other shop were demolished.
For the construction of the Patna Metro station, shops needed to be removed, and land had to be acquired. Noorani Dispensary, established by Haji Nurul Hoda, was registered in 1920 and played a significant role in promoting indigenous Unani medicine in the state. The dispensary had received letters of appreciation from the country’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Zakir Hussain, and other dignitaries.
The district administration had issued a notice to demolish the shop, leading to discussions between shopkeepers and officials. The shopkeepers were assured of compensation, and the process of removing goods from the shops had begun. However, on Saturday, a team of officials, along with police personnel, arrived with a bulldozer for the demolition, resulting in some items like wooden goods and fans being left behind. Shopkeeper Misbahul Hoda stated that despite the assurance of compensation, the money had not been received, nor was there any discussion of building a new structure.
The author is a Patna based journalist
