CM Uttarakhand: Second AIIMS Coming Up Fast in Kichha
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand has confirmed that a second AIIMS, announced by PM Modi, is under rapid construction in Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar. The facility is expected to deliver world-class healthcare to Kumaon division and cross-border populations in Uttar Pradesh.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi has announced a second AIIMS for Uttarakhand , with construction actively under way in Kichha , Udham Singh Nagar district.
The facility will serve the entire Kumaon division — six districts currently without an AIIMS-level institution — along with border areas of Uttar Pradesh .
AIIMS Rishikesh is the state's existing premier medical institute, primarily catering to the Garhwal region.
The project falls under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) , the central scheme driving AIIMS expansion across underserved regions of India.
No specific completion date has been announced; construction timelines and budget allocations remain key milestones to watch.
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand, posting on Friday, 26 June 2026, confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted a second AIIMS to Uttarakhand, with construction currently under way at Kichha in Udham Singh Nagar district.
The official post stated: 'Pradhan Mantri dwara Uttarakhand ko doosre AIIMS ki saugaat di gayi hai, jiska nirman Kichha mein teji se chal raha hai' — ('The Prime Minister has gifted a second AIIMS to Uttarakhand, the construction of which is progressing rapidly in Kichha'). The statement added that on completion, the facility will provide world-class healthcare not just to Udham Singh Nagar but to the entire Kumaon division and border areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Context
Uttarakhand currently has one AIIMS-level institution — AIIMS Rishikesh, which became operational in the mid-2010s and primarily serves the Garhwal region and parts of the northern plains. The Kumaon division, comprising six districts in the eastern half of the state, has long lacked comparable tertiary-care infrastructure, forcing patients to travel long distances or cross into neighbouring states for advanced treatment. The proposed facility at Kichha is positioned to fill that gap. The town sits in the Terai belt of Udham Singh Nagar, a district that borders Uttar Pradesh and has a large and growing population drawn from agriculture, industry, and migrant communities.Policy Backdrop
The expansion of the AIIMS network across India has been driven primarily by the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), a central scheme launched in 2003 and significantly scaled up after 2014. The scheme has funded the establishment of new AIIMS campuses in states and regions identified as underserved in tertiary healthcare, including Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh. A deliberate feature of the programme is locating new institutes away from existing state capitals, in districts with wider rural and semi-urban catchment areas. The choice of Kichha — rather than the state capital Dehradun — follows this pattern, aiming to reduce the distance patients must travel for specialised care.Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries, as identified in the official post, are residents of the Kumaon division's six districts and the border population of Uttar Pradesh. This cross-state catchment underscores the strategic value of the site: Udham Singh Nagar shares a long boundary with UP districts such as Pilibhit and Lakhimpur Kheri, whose residents currently have limited access to AIIMS-standard care. Beyond direct patient access, an AIIMS campus typically anchors a broader healthcare ecosystem — generating demand for paramedical training, pharmaceutical supply chains, and ancillary services — with multiplier effects on local employment and the regional economy.What's Next
The Uttarakhand government has not announced a specific deadline for the Kichha facility's completion in this statement. Key milestones to watch include formal budget allocations in upcoming Union or state budgets, the appointment of a director and faculty, and any phased operationalisation of outpatient or emergency services ahead of full commissioning. Progress on construction will also be a bellwether for the broader PMSSY pipeline across India's hill states.Point of View
Where cross-border healthcare access resonates strongly with voters. The choice of Kichha — deep in the Terai, far from the Garhwal-centric state capital — reflects a broader PMSSY logic of using AIIMS campuses as instruments of regional equity, not just medical capacity. The post notably credits the Prime Minister directly, reinforcing the Centre-state co-branding that has characterised flagship health infrastructure announcements since 2014. How quickly the facility moves from construction to operationalisation will determine whether this becomes a governance success story or a prolonged promise.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the second AIIMS in Uttarakhand being built?
The second AIIMS for Uttarakhand is being built in Kichha , a town in Udham Singh Nagar district in the Kumaon region, as confirmed by the Chief Minister's Office.
Who announced the second AIIMS for Uttarakhand?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the second AIIMS for Uttarakhand; the Uttarakhand CMO described it as a 'gift' from the Prime Minister to the state.
Which areas will benefit from the AIIMS in Kichha?
The facility is expected to serve residents of the entire Kumaon division — six districts in eastern Uttarakhand — as well as border populations of Uttar Pradesh , including districts such as Pilibhit and Lakhimpur Kheri.
What is the first AIIMS in Uttarakhand?
AIIMS Rishikesh is the first and currently operational AIIMS in Uttarakhand, primarily serving the Garhwal region and parts of the northern plains.
Under which scheme is the Kichha AIIMS being built?
The Kichha AIIMS is being developed under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) , the central government scheme that funds new AIIMS campuses and upgrades government medical colleges across India.
