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Meerut AIIMS Project Scrapped, Existing College to be Upgraded

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2026/ .. ct-scrapped-existing-college-to-be-upgraded.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, February 12th 2026 at 0:19 GMT by Daily
      Locales: Uttar Pradesh, INDIA

Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - February 12th, 2026 - Residents of Meerut will not be receiving a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as initially anticipated. The central government has confirmed a shift in plans, opting instead to significantly upgrade the existing Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College (LLRM) with a state-of-the-art super specialty block. The announcement, made by the Minister of State (MoS) for Health, marks a pivotal change in the region's healthcare trajectory and raises questions about the future of AIIMS expansion across India.

For years, the promise of an AIIMS in Meerut has been a beacon of hope for improved medical access and quality of care for the city's growing population and surrounding districts. The proposed institute was envisioned as a comprehensive healthcare hub, offering advanced medical treatment, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a substantial boost to medical education. The initial selection of Meerut as a potential AIIMS site generated considerable excitement and spurred local investment in supporting infrastructure. However, the project faced persistent hurdles, primarily related to land acquisition and logistical challenges in establishing the necessary infrastructure.

The MoS for Health, in a statement released earlier today, explained the rationale behind the decision. "After a thorough review of the proposed AIIMS project in Meerut, it became evident that significant infrastructure-related issues were proving insurmountable in the short to medium term. These challenges encompassed not only land availability but also the complexities of relocating existing utilities and ensuring adequate connectivity to essential services."

Rather than prolonging a project plagued by delays, the government has chosen to prioritize the enhancement of LLRM, a well-established medical college with a long-standing reputation in the region. The planned super specialty block will add critical new departments and services, addressing key gaps in healthcare provision. While the exact specialties to be included in the block are still being finalized, sources indicate that cardiology, neurology, oncology, nephrology, and gastroenterology are high priorities, reflecting the most pressing healthcare needs of the local population.

"This is not a cancellation of healthcare investment in Meerut, but a strategic redirection," the MoS emphasized. "By focusing on upgrading LLRM, we can deliver tangible improvements to medical facilities and services much more quickly and efficiently. The super specialty block will significantly enhance the college's capacity to provide advanced medical care, conduct impactful research, and train the next generation of medical professionals."

The decision to prioritize LLRM over building a new AIIMS is part of a broader national debate surrounding the feasibility of rapid AIIMS expansion. While the AIIMS network has been instrumental in improving healthcare access across India, the construction of new institutes has often been hampered by land acquisition issues, funding constraints, and bureaucratic delays. This has led to calls for a more nuanced approach, focusing on strengthening existing medical colleges and regional health infrastructure.

Local reactions to the announcement have been mixed. While some residents express disappointment at the loss of the AIIMS project, many acknowledge the immediate benefits of upgrading LLRM. "We were all looking forward to an AIIMS, but if LLRM can provide advanced care sooner, that's what matters most," said a local activist. "The super specialty block will be a game-changer for patients who currently have to travel to Delhi or other major cities for specialized treatment."

The state government of Uttar Pradesh has pledged full support for the LLRM upgrade, committing to provide necessary land and resources to expedite the construction of the super specialty block. The project is expected to be completed within the next two to three years, with a projected investment of several hundred crore rupees.

The future of AIIMS expansion remains uncertain. The government has not ruled out the possibility of revisiting the Meerut AIIMS project in the long term, but for now, the focus is firmly on strengthening existing infrastructure and ensuring that residents of Meerut have access to high-quality, specialized medical care at LLRM. This strategic shift underlines a growing recognition that a diversified approach to healthcare investment may be more effective than solely focusing on building new, large-scale institutes.