Raiganj, Kolkata, Oct. 29 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced that the state's second AIIMS would be set up at Dwipnagar in Raiganj block of North Dinajpur district. Adhikari also announced plans to establish a full-fledged cancer care hospital in Jalpaiguri.
The foundation stone of the proposed AIIMS project will be laid by Union Health minister JP Nadda after completion of the necessary paperwork and land acquisition formalities, stated the Chief Minister. The announcement of an AIIMs triggered celebrations in Raiganj and several other areas, with residents bursting crackers and exchanging sweets.
Meanwhile, the Bengal government has urged the Centre to expedite the proposal for an AIIMS at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district, identifying around 180 acres at Diknagar for the proposed institution.
Hours after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the project during his visit to Raiganj on Thursday, Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal wrote to Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, seeking priority consideration and an early technical assessment of the site.
In his letter, Agarwal offered to share details of the identified land with the Union Health Ministry for a preliminary assessment against applicable requirements. The state also expressed its willingness to facilitate a technical team's site visit and coordinate preparatory work with the Ministry.
Agarwal said the proposed institution could improve access to specialised and super-speciality healthcare for residents of North Bengal, neighbouring areas of Bihar and the Northeast, reducing the need for patients and their families to travel long distances for advanced treatment. It could also expand opportunities for medical education, professional training and research.
Reportedly the Centre had approved an AIIMS project for Raiganj in 2008. However, in 2016, the then state government shifted the proposed site to Kalyani. Since then, residents of Raiganj and adjoining areas have been demanding another such hospital in North Bengal.
At around 12:45 pm on Thursday, Adhikari reached Karnajora in North Dinajpur where he chaired an administrative meeting attended by MLAs, ministers and the district administration. He then distributed welfare schemes to beneficiaries following which he addressed a public meeting at the Teesta Colony Ground. In the evening, he returned to Kolkata.
From the administrative meeting, the Chief Minister inaugurated 30 projects and schemes worth more than Rs 98 crore for the district. He also assured promotion of processing and agro-based industries to generate employment opportunities for local youth.
The Chief Minister also announced several other development initiatives for North Dinajpur. The infrastructure of Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital will be upgraded, while new fire stations will be established at Hemtabad, Itahar and Karandighi. A women's college will be set up at Kaliyaganj, and another college will come up at Hemtabad, where academic activities are scheduled to begin in 2027.
Responding to a question of media persons regarding the demand for carving out Islampur as a separate district, the Chief Minister said: "North Dinajpur first needs better roads and railway connectivity."
He assured residents that the government would prioritise the district's overall development before considering the separate-district proposal.
"The government has initiated steps to provide land to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for constructing four flyovers at different locations, including Kanki, Dalkhola and Panjipara," the CM said.
He also announced plans for a bypass at Kishanganj and a road connecting Raiganj with Barsoi, on the Bengal-Bihar route and expressed confidence that the district would witness substantial development over the next few years.
On law and order, Adhikari said the police were instructed to take strict action against those accused of assaulting women. He warned that offenders would not be spared and asserted that the police would deal firmly with criminal activities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.