The other day, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, chaired a high level meeting to review the progress on the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) project in Kashmir and took serious notice of the slow pace of construction work and expressed strong dismay over the inadequate deployment of men and machinery on the site. As the flagship project is being closely monitored at the national level and through the Prime Minister’s PRAGATI review meetings, CS emphasized that accountability must be fixed on the contractor for failing to mobilize sufficient skilled and unskilled labourers to meet the project timelines. He directed the CPWD to expedite the pace of work and initiate the immediate remedial measures on this account. He asked to issue strict instructions to the contractor to avoid any further delay. He categorically stressed that November 2025 deadline must be met without any compromise.
Jammu and Kashmir has a history of delayed projects. Most of the developmental projects here are never completed within the given time frame and this delay impacts both the development of the region as well as economy besides burdening the government exchequer. The delays result in cost escalations and sometimes, the costs estimated at the beginning turn double with the delays. For instance, work on Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh Expressway Corridor was started on June 22, 2013 and it was scheduled to be completed in three years. However, it got delays and its first phase was inaugurated in 2018, a delay of two years.
There are several other projects that were not completed within the time frame and this has become sort of a culture in J&K. AIIMS Awantipora too has missed some deadlines and it was in this backdrop that the Chief Secretary has expressed his concerns. The project is too vital for Kashmir as it has a potential to revolutionize the tertiary healthcare infrastructure in Kashmir. While AIIMS Jammu is functional, here in Kashmir, as per official sources, only 64% of the project work has been completed.
Now that the Chief Secretary has noticed the delay, it is hoped that the project is completed within the given deadline that is November 2025. The concerned executing agencies and the official machinery should pull their socks and ensure that they adhere to the given timeline.
