Approved in 2020 and inaugurated with a foundation stone in 2024, AIIMS Darbhanga’s campus remains largely undeveloped. Viral visuals of the main gate have once again raised questions about healthcare infrastructure delays in North Bihar.
Darbhanga, Bihar: Viral visuals from Bihar’s Darbhanga district have once again put the spotlight on the slow pace of healthcare infrastructure development in India. Images and videos widely shared on social media show the main entrance gate of the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Darbhanga standing prominently amid largely vacant land. The visuals have triggered sharp public criticism and renewed debate over delays in a project that was first announced nearly a decade ago and formally approved in 2020.
For many, the scene has become a powerful symbol of unfulfilled healthcare promises. While the gate and boundary wall are nearing completion, the absence of visible hospital and academic buildings has raised uncomfortable questions about execution, accountability, and the gap between announcements and on-ground progress.
AIIMS Darbhanga was envisioned as a major tertiary-care healthcare hub for North Bihar, a region with a dense population and limited access to advanced medical services. Patients from districts such as Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh—as well as neighboring Nepal—often travel long distances to Patna, Delhi, or other metropolitan centers for specialized treatment.
The institute received Union Cabinet approval in September 2020 under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the central government’s flagship programme aimed at correcting regional imbalances in healthcare infrastructure. The project carries an estimated cost of ₹1,261 crore and is planned across 187 acres near the Ekmi–Shobhan bypass in Darbhanga.
Once completed, AIIMS Darbhanga is expected to house a medical college, a large multi-specialty tertiary-care hospital, super-specialty departments, residential facilities for doctors and students, and allied healthcare infrastructure. The institute is projected to play a dual role—providing advanced treatment while also strengthening medical education and healthcare workforce availability in Bihar.
Foundation stone laid, but construction remains limited
A major milestone was marked in November 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for AIIMS Darbhanga. The event was presented as the formal beginning of large-scale construction, raising expectations among local residents, students, and healthcare advocates.
However, more than a year after the ceremony, visible progress on core hospital and academic buildings remains limited. Instead, the recently constructed main entrance gate has become the most recognisable feature of the site, inadvertently drawing attention to the project’s slow pace.
The sharp contrast between the grandeur of the gate and the absence of hospital blocks has fueled public frustration. Viral images circulating X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook have amplified criticism.
How many AIIMS are there in India?
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) network was created to decentralise high-quality healthcare and medical education beyond the national capital. From a single institution in New Delhi, the network has expanded steadily over the years.
- Total AIIMS approved across India: Over 20 institutes
- Operational status: Varies widely, with some fully functional and others still under construction or running in phases
Fully functional AIIMS in India
The following AIIMS are widely regarded as fully functional, offering regular outpatient services, inpatient care, academic programmes, and multiple specialty departments:
- AIIMS New Delhi – National Capital Territory
- AIIMS Bhopal – Madhya Pradesh
- AIIMS Bhubaneswar – Odisha
- AIIMS Jodhpur – Rajasthan
- AIIMS Patna – Bihar
- AIIMS Raipur – Chhattisgarh
- AIIMS Rishikesh – Uttarakhand
These institutions act as major referral centres for their respective regions and have been operational for several years.
AIIMS operational in phases
Several newer AIIMS have started functioning but are still expanding infrastructure and services:
- AIIMS Nagpur – Maharashtra
- AIIMS Mangalagiri – Andhra Pradesh
- AIIMS Rae Bareli – Uttar Pradesh
- AIIMS Gorakhpur – Uttar Pradesh
- AIIMS Bathinda – Punjab
- AIIMS Deoghar – Jharkhand
- AIIMS Kalyani – West Bengal
- AIIMS Awantipora – Jammu & Kashmir
These institutes typically operate OPDs, limited inpatient services, and academic sessions while construction continues.
AIIMS still under construction or in early stages
Several AIIMS remain under active development, including:
- AIIMS Darbhanga – Bihar
- AIIMS Madurai – Tamil Nadu
- AIIMS Rajkot – Gujarat
- AIIMS Bilaspur – Himachal Pradesh
- AIIMS Guwahati – Assam
- AIIMS Vijaypur (Jammu) – Jammu region
Against this national backdrop, AIIMS Darbhanga stands out because its visible construction remains at a relatively early stage compared to several institutes approved around the same period.
Why has AIIMS Darbhanga been delayed?
Officials attribute the prolonged timeline to a combination of administrative, technical, and environmental challenges. Early delays were linked to site finalisation, with concerns related to soil conditions, drainage, and flood resilience in a monsoon-prone region.
Land acquisition and preparation also took time, including the relocation of high-tension power lines, development of approach roads, and large-scale land filling. These steps required coordination between multiple agencies at the state and central levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted planning, tendering, and construction schedules nationwide, forcing revisions to project reports and cost estimates. Seasonal constraints and administrative slowdowns during election periods also affected timelines.
Official Stand: Contracts Awarded, Completion Targeted for 2028–29
Authorities maintain that most of the major hurdles have now been addressed. According to official statements, construction contracts have been awarded and work is expected to accelerate. The current target for completion is 2028–29, with phased development planned to gradually operationalise different components of the institute.
Officials argue that early-stage structures such as boundary walls and gates are necessary precursors before vertical construction can begin, and that visible progress will increase as foundational work advances.
