Delayed AIIMS Awantipora races to meet 2026 target
Srinagar, Apr 26: Multiple deadlines have lapsed for AIIMS Awantipora since 2019, when this project was announced. The new timeliness included starting OPD Services in March-April, and full operations by the end of this year. With a history of falling behind in progress, will AIIMS Kashmir, located in Awantipora catch up in the next seven months? AIIMS Kashmir was conceived under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), and site identified at Awantipora. New AIIMS are aimed at making world-class tertiary and super-specialty healthcare accessible to people across India. However, years after the announcement, the project tells a story of logistical hurdles, unanticipated security situations and according to some, the gross error in selection of site. AIIMS are centrally funded Central Sector projects, their ownership, funding and policy control lying with the Centre. These were announced as part of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for J&K, with Central Public Works Department (CPWD) as executing agency.