Srinagar, Sept 8 (JKNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) project at Awantipora in south Kashmir is progressing steadily and is expected to be ready by December next year.
Talking to reporters, Omar as per news agency JKNS said the delay was not merely about deadlines but also due to the fact that the site for AIIMS was selected on political grounds rather than technical suitability. “Initially, some army-related issues hampered the work. It took more than a year to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) again. Once finalized, the project saw certain changes and cost escalations, but all aspects have been taken care of,” he explained.
The Chief Minister said the AIIMS Director and CPWD have assured that the institution will be ready by December next year.
“The plan is to start Out-Patient Department (OPD) services by March-April next year, followed by the beginning of classes. The In-Patient Department (IPD) is also expected to become functional by November-December,” Omar said.
He added that the government is regularly reviewing the progress to ensure the project is completed within the revised timeline. (JKNS)