Kolkata, 29 October (H.S.) : The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) major pre-election promise to establish an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in North Bengal is set to become a reality. Following the formation of the new state government, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari officially announced on Thursday that the state will send a proposal to the Central Government to set up West Bengal's second AIIMS at Dikanagar in Raiganj, North Dinajpur.

Additionally, to provide advanced medical facilities to the people of the region, the Chief Minister declared the construction of fully equipped, state-of-the-art cancer hospitals in Jalpaiguri and Siliguri.

The announcements were made during a public service distribution program at Teesta Maidan in the Karnajora area, following an administrative review meeting in Raiganj. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister outlined a comprehensive development roadmap for North Bengal, announcing 30 new projects for the region.

Emphasizing the AIIMS project, Adhikari stated that the state government has already prepared the blueprint for the prestigious health institution. The proposal will be forwarded to the Central Government. Once all necessary paperwork and formalities are completed, I will personally attend the 'Bhoomi Pujan' (groundbreaking) ceremony for AIIMS in Dikanagar along with the Union Health Minister, he assured the public.

Reiterating his commitment to revamping the entire healthcare infrastructure of North Bengal, the Chief Minister added that Siliguri would not be disappointed. He confirmed that full-fledged cancer hospitals equipped with modern amenities will be built in both Siliguri and Jalpaiguri, ensuring that oncology patients from North Bengal no longer have to travel long distances for specialized treatment.

The developments directly follow up on the explicit promises made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his election campaign in North Bengal this April, where he guaranteed the establishment of an AIIMS and a complete overhaul of local health services. During his post-victory thanksgiving tour, Chief Minister Adhikari had noted that North Bengal, including the hills, has steadfastly supported the BJP since 2009, and it is now time to repay that debt through rapid development. Thursday's sweeping healthcare announcements from Raiganj are being widely viewed as the first major step toward fulfilling those electoral commitments.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh