Expansion plan of PGIMER, PU may run into roadblocks

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16

Expansion plan of the PGIMER and Panjab University is all set to hit a roadblock as the administration has expressed its inability to allot land at concessional rates to both the institutions.

The land allotment process for Armed Forces Tribunal has also been stalled after the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the administration not to allot the land below market prices even to the government or the semi-government intuitions. Sources said letter has put the administration in the fix as it has already decided to allot the land to the PGIMER and Panjab University for their future expansion and the allotment process was on the final stage.

Sources said the Administration has conveyed to both the institutions regarding the new direction and asked them to pay rates on the basis of the collector rates prevailing in the areas. They have also been asked to give an undertaking for paying the difference in the amount, if the decision is taken to pay the full market price.

The administration agreed to allot the land in 2012 to both the institutions when Shivraj V Patil was the Administrator. It was decided that 100 acres of land will be allotted to Panjab University and more than 60 acres to the PGI. Panjab University and PGI are the two premier institutions located in Chandigarh, which are catering to the needs of Panjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and some parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The additional land was to be given so that they can meet the demands for another 50 years.

The PGI is planning to set up screening OPDs, new emergency, trauma centre, operation theatre complex, parking areas, super-specialty centres and residential houses, mother and child care centre, neuroscience centre, geriatrics centre and organ transplant centre in its expansion project. Likewise, the PU is also planning to add new buildings for its future needs

Dr Jagat Ram, Director, PGI, said: “The Health Ministry has been apprised of the issue and they will take it up with the Home Ministry.”

Prof Arun Grover, Vice-Chancellor, PU, refused to comment on the issue