Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, Oct 10: The construction on Rs 2000 crore All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kashmir is yet to start even as one year has passed since Central Government’s approval.
The Government of India in May 2016 approved the construction of AIIMS at Awantipora near Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Pulwama district. More than a year has passed since the approval but the process of construction is yet to begin. Sources said the work on Rs. 2000 crore AIIMS in Kashmir is to be executed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Ghulam Mohammad Dar told Excelsior that the required land for the construction of AIIMS is available with the Government. “Whatever land that was required for the AIIMS has been acquired. We can go for construction on 1300 kanals right now and there are no hindrances at all,” he said, adding that the tenders for infrastructure development like access road, water and power have been tendered out.
The DC said that the execution of the work on AIIMS campus is the responsibility of the CPWD and they have already carried out the survey of the site for design preparations. “The CPWD have carried out the survey of the built up area, parking area and green area. They are under design now and I believe once they will come up with the design, the work would be started. They will have to complete the table work and for design they have already carried out the tendering,” he said.
Official sources said that firing range of Army’s Victor Force which was hindering the finalization of the site for AIIMS at Awantipora has already been shifted and as of now there are no problems on ground which could delay or hamper the execution of construction work. The private land owners have also given nod to Government for land acquisition for the establishment of prestigious heath institute in the Valley.
On his part, the DC Pulwama also accepted that they are facing no problem in the project. “Sincerely speaking, there are no hiccups. Even firing range has been shifted which was adjacent to AIIMS site. There should be no reason to delay execution of construction process. Work must start as soon as possible,” he said.
The Government has identified 221 acres of land at Awantipora in Kashmir and 232 acres at Vijaypur in Samba, Jammu for two AIIMS institutes. The Government of India approved the AIIMS at the proposed sites on May 27, 2016 after inspections of the sites by teams constituted by the Centre itself. However, the Government is facing eviction problem at Vijaypur but in Valley, the people were kind enough vis-à-vis land acquisition.
Under Prime Minister’s package programme, Rs. 2000 each have been earmarked for setting up two AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir respectively. The AIIMS Kashmir is Rs 2000 crore hospital project that will have a capacity of 1000 beds, including 300 super specialty beds.
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