‘World Class’ Revamp Of AIIMS Set To Start – ET HealthWorld

New Delhi: The redevelopment of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) into a “world-class medical university” is likely to start soon with the apex committee managing to secure 18 of the 20 statutory approvals from multiple agencies for the implementation of the project.

The committee is yet to get the tree-cutting permission from the forest and environment department despite identifying 26 hectares in Aya Nagar and six hectares in Sultanpur for compensatory afforestation and tree transplantation, said sources. “If all approvals arrive in time, the project will start by the end of this year,” said an official.

Lieutenant governor V K Saxena on Thursday chaired the fourth meeting of the committee, constituted to facilitate approvals for implementing the Master Plan of Redevelopment of AIIMS, and reviewed the progress of the project, which has been approved by the Union Cabinet.

According to officials, Saxena had emphasised on seamless coordination and expeditious approvals from various agencies, including Delhi Development Authority, Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Jal Board, Airport Authority of India, Delhi Urban Arts Commission and Delhi government’s departments in the previous meeting on July 26.

Major nods received by the committee include designation of five land parcels belonging to AIIMS for redevelopment in the zonal development plan of Zone F, change of land use, development control norms for a unified campus and transportation plan, allocation of water, fire clearance, and sewage re-routing, and height approval.

“The only major pending approval is that of tree cutting from the forest and environment department, which is awaited for about a month and a half. The LG expressed his displeasure at this inordinate delay that could affect this project of national importance, which promises to augment medical services and education to the people of the country,” said an official. “The LG is likely to take up the matter with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to ensure an early solution,” he added.

Sources said that out of the 5,575 trees at the redevelopment site, 2,934 will be retained while 1,910 will be transplanted and 731 to be felled. The project has already received State Environment Impact Assessment Authority’s (SEIAA) clearance.

“The project will lead to the removal of 47% of the trees on site. SEIAA tried to get project proponents to reduce removal of trees, but only a few could be saved,” said an official.

Officials said the other pending issue was the conversion of five land parcels into one plot allotted to a single lessee by the land and development office, a procedural matter that is likely to be resolved within a few days.