SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of major health infrastructure projects across Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the need to accelerate execution and ensure that facilities become functional within the forthcoming working season.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, PWD; Secretary, Health & Medical Education; Director SKIMS; Director General, Budget; principals of Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Srinagar, Jammu, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Udhampur and Handwara; Managing Director, JKMSCL; Directors of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir; concerned Chief Engineers, besides other senior officials.
Dulloo reviewed in detail the progress of the newly established seven medical colleges and their associated hospitals, assessing the status of college buildings, administrative blocks, hostels, residential quarters and hospital complexes. He also took a project-wise appraisal of infrastructure upgradation works in the older GMCs of Srinagar and Jammu.
Key projects under review included the additional block at LD Hospital, theatre block at SMHS Hospital, new hostels at GMC Srinagar, and the extension of the ENT block. The Chief Secretary laid special emphasis on the World Bank-funded LD Hospital project under the JTFRP, which has a completion deadline of August 2026.
Dulloo further directed that the two State Cancer Institutes at Jammu and Srinagar be made fully functional at the earliest by installing LINAC machines and other advanced equipment. At SKIMS, he called for expediting the DPR for the extension of the Emergency Block and speeding up work on the Nuclear Medicine Block, which has achieved around 30% progress so far.
In Jammu, the Chief Secretary stressed making the B&J Hospital at GMC Jammu fully operational, while also reviewing the functioning of Chopra Nursing Home, construction of a 243-bedded labour block at SMGS Hospital, and upgradation of the Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC).
Other significant projects that came under review included the IPD Block and College building at SKIMS Medical College Bemina, a 125-bedded hospital at Reshipora Budgam, a 50-bedded hospital at Sunderbani, upgradation of SDH Nowshera and SDH Billawar into 100-bedded hospitals, a 100-bedded MCH at Lamberi in Rajouri, an additional IPD block at DH Kishtwar, Homeopathic College and Hostel at Kathua, and the 243-bedded MCCH at Anantnag.
Directing all concerned departments and executing agencies to work in close coordination, Dulloo emphasised strict adherence to timelines and removal of bottlenecks so that vital healthcare projects are completed in “mission mode” and dedicated to the public at the earliest.
