West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced two major healthcare initiatives for North Bengal, with plans to propose an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raiganj and establish a dedicated cancer hospital in Jalpaiguri.
The announcements were made on Thursday, October 29, during a public programme in Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur district, following an administrative review meeting.
According to the Chief Minister, the state government will submit a formal proposal to the Centre for establishing AIIMS in the Diknagar area of Raiganj. The project is intended to strengthen access to specialised healthcare for residents of Uttar Dinajpur and neighbouring areas.
However, the institution is still at the proposal stage, and the announcement does not mean that its construction has been approved or completed.
West Bengal currently has an operational AIIMS facility in Kalyani, located in Nadia district. The proposal for another institute in North Bengal also reflects a longstanding regional demand for improved medical infrastructure.
Alongside the AIIMS proposal, Adhikari announced plans to establish a full-fledged cancer hospital in Jalpaiguri. The proposed facility is expected to improve access to specialised cancer treatment for patients across North Bengal.
The announcements form part of the state government's stated effort to improve healthcare facilities beyond the Kolkata metropolitan region. If implemented, the proposed projects could become significant additions to North Bengal's medical infrastructure.
For now, the next major step for the proposed AIIMS is the submission of the state government's proposal to the Centre. Further official details will be needed to establish the timelines and implementation plans for both projects.
