Chirag Gupta
Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga, Bihar, marking a significant milestone in the region’s healthcare development. The foundation ceremony, held with a Bhoomi Pujan at the selected site in Shobhan, Darbhanga, also saw the launch of 25 other development projects across health, road, rail, and energy sectors, with investments exceeding Rs 12,000 crore. Bihar’s Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were present, with the Chief Minister warmly welcoming the Prime Minister with a bouquet.
Alongside the AIIMS project, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated two pairs of MEMU train services on the Jhanjharpur-Laukha rail line, enhancing rail connectivity in the area. In his address, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar emphasised the importance of AIIMS for Bihar, acknowledging the long-standing demand for a second AIIMS in the state after the one established in Patna during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure in 2003. Kumar expressed gratitude for the Central Government’s support and recounted discussions with former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and former Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, which paved the way for the project.
The Chief Minister also highlighted how initial plans to convert Darbhanga Medical College Hospital (DMCH) into an AIIMS were reconsidered due to logistical challenges, leading to the selection of the new site in Shobhan. He praised the District Magistrate of Darbhanga for choosing a location conducive to the city’s growth. Kumar assured attendees that the state government would widen access roads to improve connectivity to the AIIMS campus and noted the project’s potential to catalyse Darbhanga’s development.
Reaffirming Bihar’s commitment to healthcare, the Chief Minister announced that Darbhanga Medical College Hospital (DMCH), the state’s second oldest hospital, would be expanded into a 2,500-bed facility, enhancing healthcare options for residents. Similar expansion efforts are underway at Patna’s Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), which is being upgraded to world-class standards.
Expressing optimism about the project, Kumar reiterated the state’s commitment to fully cooperate with the central government to ensure the timely and high-quality construction of Darbhanga AIIMS. The event concluded with applause as attendees raised their hands in appreciation, congratulating Prime Minister Modi for this landmark development.
