Ludhiana, March 17 -- The health department is yet to set a deadline for the opening of the intensive care unit (ICU) at the local civil hospital even as the renovations are nearing completion. The ICU has been closed for over two years now.

The hospital, state's biggest urban centre, is being renovated to bring it at par with 'corporate hospitals'.

In his fourth visit since June last year, Punjab health minister minster Dr Balbir Singh on Sunday repeated the same old promise: "The ICU will be made operational soon."

"I have been to this hospital around half a dozen times since last year. I will continue visiting till the ICU opens," Dr Balbir said while answering to a query. He, however, did not specify a timeline or lay out a plan. ...