Srinagar, Sep 21 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that there is presently no proposal under consideration for further upgradation of Gousia Hospital Khanyar, including the construction of an additional block and parking facilities at Langoo Park, citing austerity measures imposed by the Finance Department.
The government made the statement in response to a starred question raised by Khanyar MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar regarding the status of healthcare infrastructure and services in the constituency and Srinagar.
According to the reply, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Gousia Hospital Khanyar is currently functioning at the level of a Community Health Centre (CHC) and has facilities to provide advanced healthcare services to patients. However, the government said that no proposal is presently under consideration for an additional block or parking facilities at Langoo Park, Khanyar.
The government attributed the absence of new proposals partly to austerity measures enforced through Finance Department Government Order No. 198-F of 2026, dated 22 May 2026, which, among other measures, provides that no new posts shall be created.
On healthcare facilities in urban Srinagar, the government said the district currently has 26 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs). Of these, 19 are functioning from government-owned buildings, while seven are operating from rented accommodations. It said necessary healthcare facilities have been put in place in the UPHCs of Srinagar district as per prescribed norms to strengthen preventive, promotive, and curative healthcare services.
Regarding the long-pending demand for upgrading UPHC Nishat to the level of a Sub-District Hospital, the government said the facility is already functioning with upgraded amenities. The reply stated that the additional floor of UPHC Nishat has been completed at a cost of Rs 122.89 lakh. Besides, under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), a Block Public Health Unit (BPHU) has been established at UPHC Nishat and is nearing completion.
The department further said it aims to address critical gaps by strengthening existing health facilities strictly in accordance with IPHS 2022 norms and improving access to medical care through rationalisation of services and a robust e-Sanjeevani/telemedicine network based on a hub-and-spoke model.
On the proposed 50-bedded AYUSH Hospital at Harwan, the government said it intends to operationalise the facility, but construction work had been halted following directions of the J&K High Court. The department has taken up the matter with the General Administration Department (GAD) and submitted a memorandum for placement before the Council of Ministers to resolve the issue. However, GAD returned the proposal with advice to obtain a fresh opinion from the Law Department. The case was subsequently submitted to the Law Department, which advised that the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD) be consulted afresh.
As per the latest status mentioned in the government reply, a draft memorandum has now been sent to H&UDD for vetting before it is re-submitted to the Council of Ministers—(KNO)