Former CM Says AIIMS Must Become Operational Soon as Healthcare Sector Faces Challenges; Union Health Minister Assures Timely Completion
Srinagar, June 6: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she spoke with Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and urged him to expedite the ongoing work on AIIMS Awantipora so that the project is completed without further delay.
In a post on X, as per news agency JKNS, Mufti said Nadda assured her that the premier healthcare institution would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
“Spoke with Union Health Minister JP Nadda ji and requested him to expedite the ongoing work at AIIMS Awantipora so that it doesn’t get delayed any further. He was kind enough to assure me about its completion well on time,” she said.
Mufti added that although the team working on the project was “toiling day and night,” the deteriorating healthcare scenario across Jammu and Kashmir made it imperative that AIIMS Awantipora becomes operational at the earliest.
“Undoubtedly the team assigned here is toiling day and night but given how healthcare is crumbling across J&K, it’s imperative AIIMS Awantipora is operational soon. It will provide much-needed relief and quality medical services,” she said.
Mufti had on Thursday visited the AIIMS Awantipora project site along with MLA Tral Rafiq Ahmad Naik and MLA Pulwama Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra to review the progress of work and interact with officials associated with the institution.
During the visit, the PDP delegation sought details regarding the pace of construction, infrastructure development and timelines for completion of the project.
The visit, however, triggered criticism from the ruling National Conference-led government. Education Minister Sakina Itoo questioned the capacity in which former rulers were reviewing the AIIMS project and accused them of attempting to claim credit for a project whose progress, she said, was being ensured by the present government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The minister had remarked that those who were no longer in power should explain under what authority they were conducting such reviews and alleged that the AIIMS project had witnessed delays during previous administrations. She maintained that the institution was now moving towards completion due to the focused efforts and monitoring by the present government.
The latest development comes amid an ongoing political debate over the AIIMS Awantipora project, which is expected to significantly strengthen tertiary healthcare facilities in Kashmir upon completion.
