Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday chaired a meeting at Awantipora, Pulwama, to review the progress of ongoing works at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Kashmir.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakina Itoo, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Executive Director AIIMS Awantipora Dr. S. Mohanty, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Secretary Health & Medical Education Dr Syed Abid Rashid, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr Basharat Qayoom and representatives of executing agency NCC Ltd, inspected the site and took a detailed review of the project.
Reviewing the status of infrastructure development, procurement of machinery, workforce mobilization and allied works, the CM stressed that strict adherence to timelines is critical for commissioning this prestigious project.
He directed the executing agency to expedite all pending works and ensure their completion within fixed deadlines.
Omar emphasized that AIIMS Awantipora must be commissioned as a single integrated unit, with both OPD and IPD services made operational simultaneously for the benefit of the general public.
To facilitate this, he instructed the executing agency to fortnightly review the status of the progress of works.
The Chief Minister also called upon the executing agency to mobilize additional manpower and machinery to accelerate the pace of work. He reviewed in detail the physical and financial progress of the project, including the construction of the main hospital building, priority building works, approach road, water supply, final master plan, routes to emergency department and other allied facilities.
He impressed upon them the need to ensure proper stabilization of the surrounding areas, especially in view of the recent heavy rainfall and the institution’s location on hilly terrain.
Earlier, Executive Director AIIMS, Dr. Mohanty, briefed the meeting on the progress achieved so far, informing that MBBS courses are scheduled to commence in July 2026, while OPD and allied services are expected to become functional early next year, with the institution fully operational by the end of the same year.
Later, talking to reporters, Omar said AIIMS coming up at Awantipora in Pulwama district is likely to be fully functional by the end of next year.
He said after initial delays in execution of the project, the pace of work has picked up, and the institute is expected to be functional by November next year.
“The director and the CPWD (officials), who are supervising the works, have assured me that the OPD will be started in March-April next year, which will be followed by starting classes. The IPD (In-Patient Department) is expected to be functional by November- December,” the CM said.
Asked about the delay in the project, he said the location for the hospital was identified after taking into account various factors, including Army’s concerns.
“It was not checked whether the site is fit for a hospital. Then there were concerns from the Army about the project. So the detailed project report had to be prepared afresh, and those (Army) concerns were addressed. One year was lost in that. However, now the project work has picked up pace and it will be completed soon,” Omar added.