Awantipora, June 05: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at the Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district will start seeing patients in various OPDs (Out Patient Departments) by 2025, said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir president, Ravinder Raina on Monday.

Talking to the media persons during his inspection of the AIIMS construction site here, Raina said the work on the prestigious project will be completed by the end of next year. 

“If everything goes well, the OPD will be started in 2025,” he said, adding that the AIIMS Awantipora is a “unique gift” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of Kashmir. 

He said the people of Kashmir will greatly benefit from the hospital as they will no longer have to travel to various hospitals in Delhi and other cities for seeking treatment once it is completed.

The BJP leader said he is “quite satisfied” with the pace of work with which the project is being executed. The construction work got delayed for some time due to some land issues which were resolved. The work again gained momentum and a large number of blocks have been completed, he added.

“I appreciate CPWD, contractors, engineers, other skilled and unskilled workers and labourers for working tirelessly for completing the project in a record time,” he said, adding, “We want to see this hospital to be completed by 2024.”

“We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the core of our hearts for approving and releasing a huge amount for the construction of this hospital which will have 50 different departments,” Raina said, adding that the hospital will be “much bigger” than the AIIMS in Delhi.