Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Sep 08 (KNO): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the site for setting up the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Awantipora was selected on political considerations rather than on the basis of feasibility.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to the under-construction campus at Awantipora, CM Omar Abdullah, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the decision to establish AIIMS at the current location was not backed by thorough ground assessment.
“Unfortunately, the site was chosen on the basis of politics, and it was never checked whether this location was actually feasible or not,” Omar said.
He pointed out that soon after the project was finalized, the army raised security-related concerns, which delayed the process by almost a year. This, he said, led to a change in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and subsequently caused cost escalation. “The project lost valuable time in the initial stage due to these complications,” Omar added.
Despite these challenges, the Chief Minister said that work was later started and it picked up pace over the last one year. “According to AIIMS authorities, the institute will be fully functional by the end of 2026, while the OPD services and MBBS classes are expected to begin by April 2026,” he said
During his visit, Omar Abdullah also reviewed the ongoing construction and available facilities at the site, expressing hope that the project would be completed within the revised timelines.
On the Hazratbal incident, Omar condemned the arrest of several people in connection with the issue. He described the episode as “unfortunate” and criticized the manner in which a plaque bearing the national emblem was installed inside the revered shrine.
“The person who made the first mistake has not yet apologized, and I still do not understand why such a step was taken,” Omar said, questioning the rationale behind the move.
He recalled that the Hazratbal shrine was inaugurated by his grandfather, the late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, who, despite his stature, never felt the need to install any such plaque inside. “The erection of a plaque inside Hazratbal was not a good decision,” he added.
On the arrest of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik, Omar Abdullah refrained from making direct remarks, saying he would first seek full details before commenting as he has no information about Malik’s arrest—(KNO)
