Mehbooba Mufti speaks to JP Nadda, urges expedited completion of AIIMS Awantipora

Srinagar, June 6: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she had spoken to Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and urged him to expedite the ongoing construction work at AIIMS Awantipora to ensure the premier healthcare institution becomes operational without any further delay.

In a post on social media platform X, Mehbooba said the Union Health Minister assured her that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

“I spoke with Union Health Minister JP Nadda ji and requested him to expedite the ongoing work at AIIMS Awantipora so that it doesn’t get delayed any further. He was kind enough to assure me about its completion well on time,” she wrote.

The former Chief Minister said the project assumes greater significance at a time when the healthcare sector in Jammu and Kashmir is facing mounting challenges and pressure on medical infrastructure.

She acknowledged the efforts of the team executing the project, stating that workers and officials were putting in sustained efforts to meet deadlines.

“Undoubtedly, the team assigned here is toiling day and night, but given how healthcare is crumbling across J&K, it is imperative that AIIMS Awantipora is operational soon,” Mehbooba said.

She expressed hope that the institution would provide much-needed relief to patients and strengthen the delivery of quality healthcare services in the region.

AIIMS Awantipora, one of the flagship healthcare projects in Jammu and Kashmir, is expected to significantly enhance tertiary healthcare facilities, medical education and specialised treatment services once operational.

On Friday, Mehbooba visited the upcoming AIIMS site at Awantipora in J&K’s Pulwama district to “understand” its progress, with the ruling National Conference questioning her capacity to conduct the “review”.

“Some people seem to be suffering from political amnesia. They still behave as if they are in power, even though they lost office in 2018 and have since been repeatedly rejected by the people,” NC leader and Health Minister Sakina Itoo said on X.

She said the current elected government is led by Omar Abdullah, “yet, one wonders in what capacity former rulers are conducting reviews of the AIIMS Awantipora project”.

“More importantly, who is signalling them to undertake such exercises? Which power centre in Delhi is directing these actions?” Itoo asked.

The minister said it is “ironic that those because of whom the AIIMS project moved at a painfully slow pace are now trying to claim ownership of its progress”.