Awantipora, Sept 08: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday conducted a detailed site visit and chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) coming up at Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the prestigious institution becomes fully functional by the end of 2026.
Accompanied by Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Executive Director AIIMS Dr. S. Mohanty, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Secretary Health Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr. Basharat Qayoom, and senior officials from the executing agency NCC Ltd, the Chief Minister inspected the construction site and reviewed the physical and financial progress of various components.
Speaking to the media after the visit, Omar Abdullah said that although the project faced initial delays due to location concerns and the need to revise Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), the pace of work has now improved significantly. “The project has picked up under the supervision of the Director and CPWD officials. I’ve been assured that construction will be completed by September-October next year, with an aim to commission the institute by December 2026,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that the Outpatient Department (OPD) is expected to become operational by March-April 2026, followed by the inauguration of academic classes and IPD services later in the year. MBBS courses are scheduled to commence from July 2026.
Omar Abdullah emphasised that AIIMS Awantipora must be commissioned as a fully integrated unit, ensuring that both OPD and IPD services begin simultaneously for the benefit of the general public.
During the review meeting, the Chief Minister directed the executing agency to expedite all pending works and adhere strictly to set timelines. He called for fortnightly reviews of the project status and urged mobilisation of additional manpower and machinery to accelerate construction.
He also reviewed work on the main hospital block, priority buildings, approach roads, water supply systems, the master plan, and emergency access routes. In view of the recent heavy rainfall and the institute’s location on hilly terrain, the Chief Minister stressed the need for proper stabilisation of surrounding areas.
Executive Director Dr. S. Mohanty briefed the meeting on overall progress, reiterating that the institute is on track for phased operationalisation starting next year. He also shared timelines for medical education and patient services.
Responding to earlier concerns, Omar Abdullah acknowledged that the project’s location had been revised after objections from the Army. “It took nearly a year to prepare revised DPRs with design changes and cost escalations. The site’s suitability for a hospital was not adequately assessed in the beginning,” he noted.
It may be recalled that on August 19, the House Committee on Petitions of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly also reviewed the AIIMS Awantipora project. The meeting, chaired by Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, emphasized the need to fast-track the work and ensure the institute meets its operational goals.
Later, the Chief Minister visited key sections of the under-construction site and examined the detailed master plan.
