Tejashwi slams PM over Bihar AIIMS, Health minister hits back: Give proper site

Mandaviya replied with a letter sent by the Centre to Bihar in May rejecting the site offered. The letter stated that a team of officials from the Health ministry found the site to be unsuitable because it is low-lying — 7 metres down from the approach road — and requires filling of earth of more than 10 metres. The ministry noted that this would require a lot of good quality soil that may not be available in Darbhanga, and will thus increase the project cost.

The letter also stated that the quality of soil used is questionable and prone to swelling and shrinkage. This might lead to the need for ground improvement for construction of the hospital and create a drainage problem if the surrounding low-lying area gets waterlogged. The letter also noted that the Nitish Kumar government should allocate an alternative site for the construction of AIIMS-Darbhanga.

Mandaviya also said: “The Modi government does not do politics in development but politics of development. The permission for AIIMS-Darbhanga was given by the government on 19 September, 2020, and the first (plot of) land was given by the Bihar government on 3 November, 2021. After your party (RJD) came to power, the site was changed on 30 April, 2023.”

He questioned why the site was changed by the state government and in whose favour was it done. Mandaviya also said, “Get out of politics and immediately give proper place for construction of AIIMS.”

The construction of AIIMS in Darbhanga was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2020 at an estimated cost of Rs 1,264 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Supposed to be completed in four years, it is meant to be a super-specialty centre with 750 beds with 100 MBBS seats.

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There are at least 24 AIIMS, other than the oldest centre in Delhi, which have either been proposed, are under-construction, partially functional, or fully functional. The first batch of six AIIMS was approved under PMSSY in 2006.