Rs. 19.70 Crore Project, Driven by DC Hamid’s Efforts, Features Siemens 1.5T Machine; Operational by Dec 2025
Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag is poised to receive an advanced Siemens MAGNETOM Altea 1.5 Tesla MRI machine, precisely valued at Rs. 19,70,61,041/-, significantly upgrading regional diagnostic services.
The critical funding was secured under Power Grid Corporation of India Limited’s (PowerGrid) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, attributed to months of dedicated follow-up by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Syed Fakhrudin Hamid, IAS.
Formal agreements, including a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) dated August 18, 2023, and a PowerGrid Undertaking dated March 21, 2025, outline HLL Lifecare Limited’s role in supply/installation and confirm PowerGrid’s direct payment responsibility, targeting project completion by December 31, 2025.
This much-needed facility promises to end the significant financial and logistical burden on South Kashmir residents who previously faced costly travel to private centres or other districts for essential MRI scans.
jj correspondent
Jammu, April 19, 2025: A major leap forward in South Kashmir’s healthcare capabilities is underway as Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag prepares for the installation of a cutting-edge Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility. The project centres around acquiring a Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Altea 1.5 Tesla machine, noted for its wide bore (70cm diameter), representing a substantial technological upgrade for the institution. This vital enhancement comes with a specific project cost of ?19,70,61,041/- (Rupees Nineteen Crore Seventy Lakh Sixty-one Thousand And Forty-one Only).
The realization of this project stems from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PowerGrid). Securing this significant investment is credited to the sustained advocacy and persistent communication efforts over the past several months by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Anantnag, Syed Fakhrudin Hamid, IAS. His engagement with PowerGrid officials was instrumental in bringing this critical healthcare resource to the region.
Formal arrangements underpinning the project are clearly documented. A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) dated August 18, 2023, was signed between PowerGrid and HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), outlining HLL’s responsibility for the supply and installation process. Subsequently, PowerGrid issued a formal Undertaking on March 21, 2025, addressed to HLL Lifecare Limited, confirming the project details and the beneficiary as the Principal, Government Medical College, Janglat Mandi, Anantnag (email: gmca.planning@gmail.com). Crucially, this undertaking, signed by Vinod P. Baxla, General Manager (HR), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, NR-II, Jammu, affirms that PowerGrid “will be fully responsible for timely release of eligible payments to the contractors / suppliers,” absolving HLL of payment-related claims.
The official correspondence initiated by DC Anantnag includes letters such as No. DDCA/GMCA/2023-24/7117-20 dated 31-12-2024, which referenced prior communication (No. DDCA/GMCA/2023-24/7069-72 dated 30-12-2024) and submitted cost estimates to facilitate the project’s approval process. The entire initiative is firmly scheduled for completion by December 31, 2025.
The introduction of this MRI facility is anticipated with widespread relief across South Kashmir. Previously, residents requiring MRI diagnostics faced considerable hardship, often forced to travel to private diagnostic centres, incurring costs ranging from Rs 4000 to Rs 8500 per scan, or undertake journeys to tertiary care hospitals in Central Kashmir. The establishment of this service at GMC Anantnag will eliminate these burdensome trips, making essential diagnostic imaging accessible and affordable locally, marking a significant improvement in regional healthcare delivery spearheaded by the district administration’s efforts.
