Kerala’s longstanding demand for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has once again been overshadowed in the Union Budget 2026-27, leaving officials, political leaders and citizens disappointed. Despite hopes built over several years, the budget did not include approval for establishing AIIMS in Kerala, continuing a pattern of omissions that critics say sidelines the state’s key infrastructure needs.
The Kerala government had been actively pursuing the AIIMS proposal, identifying suitable land at Kinaloor in Kozhikode and fulfilling procedural requirements as part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana framework. However, the Centre decided not to approve the institute in this budget cycle, frustrating state leaders who had expected at least a budgetary nod.
Political reaction was swift and sharp. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan questioned whether Kerala was being ignored in national planning, noting that other major demands — such as high-speed rail connectivity and a special package for the Vizhinjam port — were also left out. He said the repeated omission of AIIMS and other projects sends a worrying signal about the Centre’s priorities.
Leaders from both major fronts in Kerala — the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) — condemned the budget, calling it disappointing and neglectful of the state’s needs. Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described Kerala as “entirely invisible” in the budget’s roadmap, highlighting continued exclusion from national high-impact initiatives.
On the other hand, the state BJP leadership countered that Kerala has not fully implemented projects already sanctioned by the Centre, including land acquisition delays for the proposed AIIMS site. They urged the state government to expedite execution of approved initiatives.
For now, the absence of AIIMS from the budget has renewed debate over Kerala’s healthcare infrastructure priorities and the political narrative ahead of upcoming elections.
News as reported
