North Kashmir’s Kulangam to be new site for GMC Handwara

Srinagar, Apr 1: Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara is set to be shifted from its original site at Maidan Chogal. Three alternate sites in nearby areas are under consideration of the Government, with Kulangam emerging as a strong contender for construction of this new medical college.

The original site of GMC Handwara was rendered unsuitable after flood waters submerged the entire construction area in 2025. Government disclosed the details in a written reply to an Assembly Question by Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, legislator from Handwara. The Health & Medical Education Department in its reply stated that the original site at Maidan Chogal/Chogal was found “not suitable” in view of the flooding incident.

Accordingly, a proposal regarding relocation of GMC Handwara is being taken up with the General Administration Department and being placed before the Council of Ministers for in-principle approval.

The Department said a committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir was constituted vide Government Order No. 2090-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated 16 December 2024. The Committee inspected the original site and three alternative locations. The three alternate locations identified are a 183 kanal land presently under Department of Horticulture at Chogul Maidan, a 208 kanal land under Krishi Vigyan Walnut Kendra (Research Center) and a linear patch of land of 100 kanals at Maidan Chogul.

After detailed evaluation, the Department has stated that the committee unanimously recommended Site No. 2 at Kulangam as the most viable option. According to the committee’s findings, the reply states, Kulangam’s 208 kanals and 14 marlas meets all National Medical Commission (NMC) norms. It also offers better highway connectivity and is secure from floods, mudslides or other climate-related hazards.

The committee explicitly noted that the existing Maidan Chogal site is “not feasible for establishing a prestigious institution”. Its relocation, the Government has said, is the only viable option under NMC guidelines.

The process of acquiring Letter of Permission for construction of the GMC at this site has already begun. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was formally requested on 25 February 2025 by the Health Minister to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for land transfer. However, the NoC has not been acquired yet. The H&ME said all major pre-requisite clearances from departments including Roads & Bridges (R&B), PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Forest, Pollution Control Board, and Soil Conservation have been obtained. “The only pending requirement is from the Geology & Mining Department”. This department has recommended a comprehensive geo-technical investigation and a site-specific seismic hazard assessment in view of the high seismic vulnerability in J&K. Geo-technical study through a competent institution will be carried out before any construction activity begins, H&ME has written.