SRINAGAR: Construction of the 50-bedded hospital at Pahalgam has achieved around 75 per cent physical progress, with the remaining works being taken up on priority, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani, the minister said the project was sanctioned in March 2020 at a cost of ₹19.90 crore under Government Order No. 244-JK(HME) of 2020.
The project includes construction of the hospital building along with associated civil, electrical, mechanical and allied works.
Itoo said ₹16.75 crore has been released for the project so far, of which ₹10.53 crore had been spent up to March 31, 2026. An additional expenditure of ₹33.31 lakh has been incurred during the current financial year.
The minister informed the House that a diesel generator set has already been commissioned and handed over, while the laundry system, Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) and Sterile Tunnel Project (STP) have been installed and are at the commissioning stage.
Installation of the hospital lift is also in progress, while work on the remaining mechanical and electrical components is continuing.
Explaining the delay, Itoo said an additional basement had to be incorporated into the project due to site topography and level differences. The modification increased the built-up area and required additional structural, architectural, electrical and mechanical works, leading to a revision in project cost.
She added that post-COVID increases in equipment and installation costs had further contributed to the escalation, and additional funding is being explored.
The minister said the project is being closely monitored and that a review meeting has been held with stakeholders to address issues affecting its completion.
She informed the House that the process for revised administrative approval has been initiated and will be completed after receipt and scrutiny of the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) from the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.
Responding to a supplementary question on upgrading the Primary Health Centres at Pahalgam, Sallar and Aishmuqam into Sub-District Hospitals, Itoo said there is no such proposal at present as the department is focused on strengthening existing healthcare facilities.
She said the existing health infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir already exceeds the number of Sub-District Hospitals envisaged under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS)-2022 norms.