Pahalgam 50-bed hospital 75% complete, cost revision underway: J&K govt
Synopsis
Three years behind its original timeline and with a cost revision pending, Pahalgam's 50-bed hospital is finally three-quarters built. J&K Health Minister Sakeena Itoo told the Assembly on Friday that the ₹19.90 crore project — stalled by site terrain and post-COVID cost shocks — will require fresh funding approval before it can cross the finish line.
Key Takeaways
J&K Health Minister Sakeena Itoo told the Legislative Assembly on 25 September 2026 that the Pahalgam 50-bed hospital block has achieved 75 per cent physical progress.
The project was sanctioned under Government Order No.
244-JK(HME) of 2020 at a cost of ₹19.90 crore .
A total of ₹16.75 crore has been released; ₹10.53 crore was spent up to 31 March 2026 , with ₹33.31 lakh more in the current financial year.
Delays were caused by an additional basement required due to site topography and post-COVID equipment cost escalation; a revised Administrative Approval is being processed.
Upgrades of Pahalgam, Sallar and Aishmuqam PHCs to Sub-District Hospitals are not under consideration, as J&K already exceeds IPHS-2022 SDH norms.
14 developmental projects worth ₹24.62 crore are under execution in Baramulla Town .
J&K Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Friday, 25 September 2026, told the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that the 50-bedded hospital block at Pahalgam has achieved approximately 75 per cent physical progress, with remaining works being pursued on priority. The project, sanctioned in 2020 at a cost of ₹19.90 crore, has faced delays due to site-specific challenges and post-COVID cost escalation.
Project Status and Key Milestones
Minister Itoo, replying to a question raised by MLA Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Wani, confirmed that the DG Set has been successfully commissioned and handed over. The Laundry System, Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), and Sterile Tunnel Project (STP) have been supplied and installed, and are currently at the commissioning stage. Hospital lift installation is also in progress, while remaining mechanical and electrical components are being finalised.
Funding and Expenditure
Against the sanctioned project cost of ₹19.90 crore, a total of ₹16.75 crore has been released so far. Of this, ₹10.53 crore had been expended up to 31 March 2026, with an additional ₹33.31 lakh incurred during the current financial year, as reflected in departmental records. Additional funding is reportedly being explored to cover revised project costs.
Reasons for Delay and Cost Revision
The Minister attributed the delay to an additional basement that became necessary during execution due to site topography and level differences at Pahalgam. This expanded the built-up area and triggered additional structural, architectural, mechanical, and electrical works. Post-COVID escalation in equipment and installation costs further contributed to the cost overrun. The process for a revised Administrative Approval has been initiated and will be accorded after scrutiny of the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) from the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.
Sub-District Hospital Upgrades: No Proposal Under Consideration
Responding to a supplementary question on upgrading Primary Health Centres at Pahalgam, Sallar, and Aishmuqam to Sub-District Hospitals, Minister Itoo clarified that no such proposal is currently under consideration. She explained that the department is focused on consolidating existing healthcare facilities, and cited IPHS-2022 norms — under which districts with fewer than five lakh population with a functional District Hospital do not require a Sub-District Hospital. She noted that Jammu and Kashmir already has more Sub-District Hospitals than permitted under these norms.
Baramulla Projects and Ministerial Oversight
Minister Itoo stated that she is personally monitoring the Pahalgam hospital project's progress and has held a review meeting with all stakeholders to address completion bottlenecks. She also noted that 14 developmental projects worth ₹24.62 crore are under execution across Baramulla Town. The Pahalgam hospital, once complete, is expected to significantly boost secondary healthcare access in a region that sees high tourist footfall and has limited medical infrastructure.
Point of View
Regardless of how the progress is framed. The admission that a basement was only discovered necessary during execution points to inadequate pre-construction site assessment — a recurring flaw in public infrastructure projects in J&K. The cost revision process now adds another administrative layer that could push completion further. With Pahalgam drawing national attention post the April 2025 terror attack, the pressure to deliver functional healthcare infrastructure here carries significance well beyond routine project management.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of the Pahalgam hospital project?
The 50-bedded hospital block at Pahalgam has achieved approximately 75 per cent physical progress as of September 2026, J&K Health Minister Sakeena Itoo told the Legislative Assembly. The DG Set has been commissioned, and key systems like CSSD and the Laundry System are at the commissioning stage, while lift installation and remaining electrical works are ongoing.
Why has the Pahalgam hospital project been delayed?
The project was delayed primarily because an additional basement became necessary during construction due to site topography and level differences, increasing the built-up area and requiring additional works. Post-COVID escalation in equipment and installation costs also pushed up the project cost, for which additional funding is being explored.
How much has been spent on the Pahalgam hospital so far?
Against a sanctioned cost of ₹19.90 crore, a total of ₹16.75 crore has been released. Expenditure stood at ₹10.53 crore up to 31 March 2026, with an additional ₹33.31 lakh spent in the current financial year.
Will PHCs at Pahalgam, Sallar and Aishmuqam be upgraded to Sub-District Hospitals?
No. Minister Sakeena Itoo clarified that no such proposal is under consideration, as the department is focusing on strengthening existing facilities. She cited IPHS-2022 norms, under which Jammu and Kashmir already has more Sub-District Hospitals than the guidelines permit.
What happens next for the Pahalgam hospital project?
A revised Administrative Approval is being processed and will be issued after scrutiny of the revised Detailed Project Report from the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir. Minister Itoo stated she is personally monitoring the project and has held stakeholder review meetings to accelerate completion.
