‘Will be completed next year, OPD from April’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the AIIMS Awantipora project is progressing rapidly, with the Outpatient Department (OPD) expected to start in March-April next year and full completion slated for December 2026.
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Speaking to reporters during a visit to the AIIMS site, the Chief Minister said the project site had originally been chosen on political grounds without fully assessing its suitability for a hospital, which led to delays in the project.
He explained that AIIMS authorities were simply instructed to construct the hospital at the allotted site, and work began accordingly. “It is not the fault of AIIMS or CPWD. First of all, this place was decided on a political basis. At that time, it was not known whether this was the right place for a hospital or not.”
Omar said that the project initially suffered delays due to security concerns raised by the Army, which required a fresh set of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). “It took more than a year to finalize the new DPRs. Naturally, with the revised plans, the entire project had to be restructured, which also led to some cost escalation. All these issues have now been addressed,” he said.
He said the Project Director and the CPWD supervising the work have assured that it will be completed by September or October next year, with commissioning planned for December.
“Before that, we aim to start the OPD in March or April next year. After that, classes will begin. The IPD is expected to be completed by November or December,” he added.
Asked about the Hazratbal incident, the Chief Minister termed it “wrong” and said no explanation or apology was offered.
“After people’s emotions came out, the administration reacted strongly. We need to understand why this stone was placed; there was no need for it,” he said, recalling that the Hazratbal Masjid, built in 1982, had no such inscriptions.
Earlier, the Chief Minister 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 Chief Minister 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.
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 further 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, the Chief Minister inspected the site, the premises and perused master plan of the institution.
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