Politics caused delay in AIIMS Awantipora construction: CM

Awantipora, Sep 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday blamed political decisions and security concerns for delays in constructing the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Awantipora.

“This site was chosen on political grounds without properly assessing whether it was suitable.

The AIIMS authorities are not at fault.” Abdullah told reports after taking stock of the construction work. He said that initially, the project was held back because of security concerns, and it took more than one year to prepare fresh detailed project reports (DPRs)

“Due to change in DPRS, the revised plan led to cost escalations that have since been addressed and that construction has now gained pace”, said Abdullah.  The project was launched in 2019 along with AIIMS Jammu in Samba, which was inaugurated in February 2024, while work at the Awantipora site has been lingering on. AIIMS officials often cited COVID-19 disruptions and a shortage of workforce during winter months among the key reasons for the inordinate delay.

Abdullah said the director and CPWD officials overseeing the work assured him the project would be completed by September–October next year and commissioned in December.  “Outpatient services will begin then in March–April, followed by classes and inpatient care, and the institute hopes that it will be fully operational by November–December,” Abdullah said. Replying to a question on the detention of 26 people over the Hazratbal plaque incident, Abdullah said the action was unjustified. “No one apologized for the wrong that was done there, and when people expressed their emotions, the authorities turned their anger on them,” he said. He questioned the need for installing the plaque in the first place.  “The present structure of the Hazratbal shrine was built by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, but he never installed a stone inscribed with his name,” he said.