Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 23: The highly anticipated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district is once again set to miss its deadline, raising concerns among residents and patients eager for advanced healthcare facilities.
Despite repeated assurances, the project, initially slated for completion by January 2025 and later revised to November 2025, is still far from finished. According to sources with knowledge of the project, approximately 70–75% of the work has been completed, with an estimated 25–30% remaining.
Officials involved in the development acknowledged that, at the current pace, it will take an additional six to eight months for full completion.
“AIIMS Awantipora was originally scheduled for completion by January 2025, then revised to November 2025. While significant progress has been made, some crucial infrastructure remains under construction. If the current pace continues, the project should be completed within the next 8-10 months,” a senior official said.
He said that once operational, the institute’s MBBS courses are expected to commence from July 2026, with outpatient department (OPD) services likely to begin by August 2026.
The central government sanctioned two AIIMS projects for Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, one at Vijaypur in Jammu and another at Awantipora in Pulwama. While AIIMS Jammu was completed last year and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AIIMS Awantipora has faced multiple hurdles leading to delays.
Land acquisition issues for an access road, which is crucial for transporting construction materials, were among the primary challenges. The situation was exacerbated following the abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent regional restrictions. The COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts related to a nearby army base, and erratic weather conditions further slowed progress.
“Despite these hurdles, work has been ongoing for the past two years. The academic blocks, hospital units, and hostel buildings are nearing completion, and we are making every effort to hand over the institute to the authorities as soon as possible,” the official added.
Residents of Pulwama and neighbouring areas expressed disappointment over the repeated delays. They said that while Jammu has already benefited from the AIIMS Vijaypur, Kashmir continues to lack access to such advanced medical facilities.
“Both AIIMS projects were sanctioned simultaneously, but only Jammu has benefited so far. People in Kashmir are suffering more, as they lack easy access to premier institutions like AIIMS Delhi or PGI Chandigarh. The government should have prioritised AIIMS Awantipora, considering the healthcare needs of the valley,” said Mohammad Ibrahim, a local.
Others urged the government to expedite the project, saying that patients with life-threatening illnesses continue to face difficulties in receiving quality care.
The project, approved at an estimated cost of Rs 1,828 crore, comprises around 57 major structures, including hospital blocks, academic buildings, hostels, residential quarters, sports facilities (such as a football ground and tennis courts), and gardens with medicinal plants.
Once operational, AIIMS Awantipora will add 1,000 hospital beds to Kashmir’s healthcare system, including 300 super-speciality beds. The institute will also house a Medical College with a capacity of 100 MBBS students and a Nursing College accommodating 60 students annually.
In January this year, J&K’s Chief Secretary announced that the institute would become functional by November 2025. However, given the current pace of work and ongoing infrastructure challenges, insiders suggest that the institute may not be operational before mid-2026.
“Work is progressing, and the government is monitoring the situation closely. With sustained efforts, the people of Kashmir will soon have access to world-class healthcare facilities,” a senior official said.
In a recent review, MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, Chairman of the House Committee on Petitions of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, indicated that officials have committed to starting MBBS courses from July 2026, OPD services by August 2026, and inpatient department (IPD) services by the end of 2026.
He said that delays are partly attributable to labour shortages, which worsened following the Pahalgam attack, with only 1,800 workers available against a required 2,500.
