CHANDIGARH | October 23, 2026: Families accompanying patients to Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 (GMCH-32) now have access to a new free langar meal service within the hospital complex. Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria inaugurated the initiative at the Old Panah Sarai on Friday, according to a Chandigarh Administration announcement issued the same day.
The community food service is operated by Dhan Guru Ram Das Langar Sewa, with the aim of easing a practical burden for patients’ relatives and attendants who may spend hours at the hospital. During the inauguration, Kataria served food to attendants and joined those present for the meal. Chandigarh Chief Secretary Hiriadka Rajesh Prasad accompanied him.
Featured photo: Chandigarh Administration press release, October 23, 2026, via India News Calling.
Where is the new GMCH-32 langar located?
The newly inaugurated service operates at the Old Panah Sarai on the premises of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. It is intended principally for patients’ attendants and other needy visitors who stay in the hospital area while their family members receive treatment.
The announcement identifies the location and operator but does not specify a registration method or issue a detailed publicly verified serving timetable. Visitors should therefore confirm the day’s meal hours and arrangements with the helpdesk or volunteers at the location rather than rely on unverified timings circulating online.
Why a free meal service matters to hospital attendants
When treatment requires repeated consultations, admission or a prolonged stay, an attendant may remain at a hospital for much of the day. Locating affordable meals, leaving the patient to find food and paying for multiple family members can add to the challenge. An organised on-site service offers a place to access food without a lengthy journey away from the hospital.
At the inauguration, the Administrator linked the initiative to the longstanding Sikh community-service tradition of langar, emphasising collective welfare and service to others. The arrangement is described as free food for those in need; it is not a substitute for hospital clinical services, prescribed patient diets or any nutrition plan recommended by doctors.
Who is running the service at GMCH Sector 32?
Dhan Guru Ram Das Langar Sewa is the organisation operating the meal service. The Chandigarh Administration release describes its existing work supporting people at hospitals in Punjab, and the Administrator acknowledged its contribution to patients’ families.
Besides Kataria and the Chief Secretary, those attending included Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Secretary and Chief Executive of the Punjab State Red Cross; Manjeet Singh from Dhan Guru Ram Das Langar Sewa Asthan; GMCH-32’s Director-Principal and senior hospital representatives, faculty, staff and attendants.
What Chandigarh residents should know before visiting
- Facility: Free community langar at Old Panah Sarai
- Hospital: GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh
- Operator: Dhan Guru Ram Das Langar Sewa
- Inaugurated: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Intended beneficiaries: Patients’ relatives, attendants and other needy visitors
- Daily timings or registration: Check on-site; no detailed hours were specified in the cited official release
For attendants travelling from Mohali, Panchkula or nearby Punjab and Haryana towns, the value of a service like this lies in convenience as well as cost. The hospital and volunteers will be best placed to clarify queue management, meal service periods and any changes in arrangements as the operation settles in.
Latest Chandigarh public-service and healthcare updates
GMCH-32’s new meal facility follows other efforts to improve public access to essential services in the Tricity. Read more from our News Room on Chandigarh’s recent civic-project review and doorstep e-waste collection in Chandigarh.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new langar at GMCH-32 free?
Yes. Chandigarh Administration described it as a free langar intended to help patients’ attendants and other visitors who need support.
Where can attendants find the langar?
At Old Panah Sarai inside the GMCH-32 campus in Sector 32, Chandigarh.
Who inaugurated the service?
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria inaugurated it on October 23, 2026.
Who operates the service?
Dhan Guru Ram Das Langar Sewa is the organisation identified as its operator in the Chandigarh Administration release.
Are there confirmed meal hours?
The official communication checked for this article did not state a detailed meal schedule. Ask the volunteers or hospital staff for up-to-date timings.
Source: Chandigarh Administration, “Administrator Inaugurates Langar Services at GMCH-32, Chandigarh,” released October 23, 2026, via India News Calling. This article is an independently written summary of the dated announcement, with practical context and explicitly identified gaps in published service information.