AIIMS Kashmir project has not seen any progress for around a year, putting a question mark over the completion of this premier health institution expected to upgrade health and medical education scenario here.
AIIMS site at Awantipora has seen “two weeks of activity”since June last year, an official in health and medical education departmentsaid. “In February this year, some officials from executing agency CPWD visitedthe site and a few days later, digging was started for laying the foundation ofthe building.”
However, he said, soon after, it slowed down again. “Withthe emerging COVID19 situation at that time, the labour force suddenly becamescant,” the official said. He said, soon after, restrictions were imposed inKashmir and work stopped completely.
With the ongoing lockdown, there is no possibility ofrestarting the work, the official said.
The completion of AIIMS Kashmir has been pushed back overthe years due to a number of factors. In the 2019 summer, the work stopped dueto litigations on the acquisition of land required for the access road vitalfor transport of the material to the site.
Later in August, Kashmir witnessed a lockdown for manymonths making work at the site “unrealistic”: the period was followed by long and harsh winter months.
“When the weather improved and there was some possibility ofwork, we were hit by COVID19,” the official said.
Director Coordination AIIMS and New Government MedicalColleges, while speaking to Greater Kashmir said the work would resume “in fullforce” when the COVID19 crisis is over.
“Currently, no work is possible due to lockdown,” he said.He added that it was due to “prevailing circumstances” since July last yearthat there was delay in work. “We are still hopeful that we will be able tocomplete the work on time,” he said.
AIIMS Awantipora has the deadline of 2024 as per the unionministry of health and is expected to come up at a cost of Rs 1837 crore.Thepremier institute is expected to add 1000 beds including 300 super specialtybeds to the existing strength in Kashmir. Besides, the ambitious projectincludes a medical college with an intake capacity of 100 students and also anursing college with a capacity of 60 students annually.
J&K Government had started the process of admittingfirst batch of 50 students for this institute with a makeshift campus thisyear. Many locations had been identified in Srinagar and Jammu for AIIMSAwantipora and AIIMS Vijaypur respectively. These locations were to berefurbished for accommodating classrooms, laboratories and other essentialinfrastructure.