Apollo Hospitals has appointed Upasana Kamineni Konidela as Director – Projects as the healthcare major advances an estimated ₹8,600-crore expansion programme covering new hospitals, brownfield upgrades and facility improvements across India, the company said on Thursday.
Konidela will work with Apollo’s leadership, clinical teams and project partners on the planning and delivery of hospital projects, according to the company. Her remit will include new facilities, expansions and upgrades to existing hospitals, along with efforts to maintain consistent design standards across patient spaces.
Apollo said the projects function will focus on practical aspects of hospital design and delivery, including clear signage, easier wayfinding, more efficient clinical spaces and a more comfortable experience for patients and their families. The role will also involve stronger project processes, reporting and coordination from the design stage through to the opening of facilities.
The expansion programme has an estimated total project cost of approximately ₹8,600 crore. This includes around ₹1,565 crore for listed brownfield expansion projects at existing Apollo facilities. The company has not confirmed which specific projects or budgets will fall within Konidela’s individual mandate.
The programme covers projects in Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru, as well as Lucknow, Varanasi, Indore, Guwahati and Ranchi, among other locations. The announcement does not provide project-wise timelines, bed capacity, construction schedules or details of the facilities planned for each city.
The appointment places hospital design and project coordination at the centre of Apollo’s expansion strategy. Hospitals require the integration of clinical operations, patient movement, medical infrastructure, construction planning and public access, making design decisions relevant not only to the healthcare provider but also to the neighbourhoods in which facilities are developed.
“Good hospital design has a human purpose. Patients should find their way without confusion; families should feel supported; and our doctors and care teams should have spaces that help them deliver excellent care,” Konidela said in a statement. She added that the projects should serve their neighbourhoods, create opportunities for people working with Apollo and help more people access healthcare.
Apollo’s next steps will involve planning and delivering projects across the listed locations, while further details on individual facilities, budgets, timelines and implementation responsibilities remain to be confirmed by the company.
