STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of ongoing and proposed health infrastructure projects across the Union Territory of J&K, reiterating that strengthening healthcare facilities remains a top priority of the government.
A comprehensive review was conducted of projects being executed by the Health & Medical Education Department, covering Government Medical Colleges, SKIMS, Dental Colleges, Health Services, SASCI projects, and flagship centrally sponsored schemes such as PM-ABHIM and ECRP-II. The Chief Secretary examined physical and financial progress, fund utilization, and issues delaying project execution, issuing clear directions to expedite approvals, resolve inter-departmental bottlenecks-particularly related to land and utilities-and ensure strict adherence to timelines and quality standards.
Chief Secretary Dulloo emphasized that delays in healthcare projects directly impact public welfare, cautioning that lapses would be reviewed at the highest level. He stressed the need to avoid cost overruns through efficient use of resources. Additional Chief Secretary, PWD, Anil Kumar Singh, issued on-the-spot instructions to Chief Engineers to remove site-specific bottlenecks to ensure uninterrupted work. Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, presented an overview of progress since the last review and outlined the department’s mechanism for regular monitoring of projects.
The meeting reviewed major infrastructure projects at GMC Jammu, GMC Srinagar and associated hospitals, including the Bone and Joint Hospital, Jammu, expansion of tertiary care facilities, and works at Indira Gandhi Government Dental College & Hospital, Jammu. Progress of new medical colleges at Anantnag, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur, and Handwara was also examined, with instructions to strictly follow approved timelines. At GMC Anantnag, the construction of a 249-bedded Mother and Child Care Hospital was discussed, now funded under UT Capex with revised DPR including furniture and furnishing. At GMC Udhampur, space constraints for a 50-bedded Critical Care Block under ECRP-II were reviewed, and directions issued for early NOC completion for ITI land transfer to facilitate expansion.
Infrastructure works at GMC Rajouri, including parking, retaining walls, electrical systems, and hostels for resident doctors, were also examined. High-value tertiary care projects at SKIMS Soura and SKIMS Medical College Bemina were discussed, with instructions for seamless execution to strengthen advanced healthcare delivery.
Under Health Services, major projects such as 100-bedded Mother and Child Care Hospital, Lamberi (Rajouri); upgradation of SDH Billawar; 50-bedded Hospital at Sunderbani; 100-bedded Hospital at Nowshera; 125-bedded District Hospital at Reshipora, Budgam were reviewed, expected to strengthen secondary and district-level healthcare services across J&K.
For SASCI projects, 23 works have received approval, 13 are under execution, with Rs 34.98 crore released in FY 2025-26, and works worth over Rs 20 crore already completed. The Chief Secretary directed rationalization of slow-moving projects and re-proposal of unviable works under appropriate funding windows.
A presentation by HSCC highlighted progress under PM-ABHIM and ECRP-II, with most critical care projects expected to be substantially completed by March 2026. Works under ECRP-II worth Rs 178.32 crore were reviewed, with directions to accelerate physical progress to match financial outlays.
Concluding the meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo stressed that timely completion of health infrastructure projects is essential to improve service delivery and directed all stakeholders to maintain close coordination to ensure tangible outcomes on the ground, meeting deadlines without delay.