Srinagar, Feb 13 (KNO): The Government of India has informed the Lok Sabha that while the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in Jammu division is fully functional, the AIIMS at Awantipora in Kashmir division is still under construction.
Replying to unstarred Question No. 2466 in the Lok Sabha, raised by MP Abhishek Banerjee, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that 15 AIIMS have been approved across States and UTs under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) since 2015.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Vijaypur, located in Samba district of Jammu division, is functional. Sanctioned bed strength: 750 beds, sanctioned faculty posts: 183, faculty filled: 119 vacant posts: 64.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Awantipora is under construction. Sanctioned bed strength: 750 beds, sanctioned faculty posts: 94 faculty filled: 0, vacant posts: 94
The reply indicates that while the Jammu division AIIMS has become operational and is catering to patients, the Kashmir division institute is yet to be completed and made functional.
The Minister further stated that completion of AIIMS projects depends upon several factors, including transfer of encumbrance-free land by the concerned State/UT Government, obtaining regulatory and statutory clearances, and resolution of site-specific issues.
No specific revised deadline for completion of AIIMS Awantipora was mentioned in the reply. However, the Government said that projects under PMSSY are being regularly monitored.
The development is significant for J&K, where the establishment of two AIIMS—one each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions—was announced to strengthen tertiary healthcare infrastructure and reduce patient referral burden outside the Union Territory—(KNO)