“Why Was AIIMS Taken Away From Raiganj?”
This question still echoes through the streets of Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, and the entire North Bengal region. For many people, the Raiganj AIIMS issue is not just another political controversy. It is an emotional wound connected to healthcare, development, unemployment, and decades of regional neglect. Even today, thousands search online for terms like “Raiganj AIIMS news,” “Why AIIMS shifted from Raiganj,” “AIIMS in North Bengal,” and “Second AIIMS in West Bengal.” Behind every search lies one painful question — why did North Bengal lose one of the biggest healthcare projects in its history?
The History of the Raiganj AIIMS Project:
Chapter 1 : The Beginning of Hope in 2009
In 2009, the Central Government approved an AIIMS-like super speciality hospital in Raiganj under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The announcement created massive hope across North Bengal. People from Raiganj, Islampur, Kaliaganj, Siliguri, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and nearby Bihar border areas celebrated the decision as a historic moment.
For the first time, people felt that Delhi had finally acknowledged the healthcare crisis of North Bengal. The proposed project was expected to include a super speciality hospital, advanced cancer treatment facilities, cardiology units, trauma care centres, a medical college, research infrastructure, intensive care units, and emergency services. Thousands of future jobs were also expected to emerge from the project. Many believed that this AIIMS-like institution would become the largest healthcare revolution in North Bengal.
Why Raiganj Was Chosen for AIIMS?
Chapter 2 : Strategic Importance of Raiganj
Raiganj was not selected randomly. Geographically, the town connects North Bengal with Bihar, Northeast India, and border regions near Bangladesh. Its strategic location made it ideal for a large national healthcare institution.
At that time, North Bengal suffered from severe healthcare shortages. North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri remained overcrowded, rural hospitals lacked specialists, and emergency patients often had to travel hundreds of kilometres to Kolkata for advanced treatment. Poor families struggled to afford private hospitals. In many cases, treatment delays became life-threatening.
An AIIMS in Raiganj was expected to solve many of these problems by bringing advanced healthcare closer to millions of people living in underserved districts.
The Political Turning Point
Why Was AIIMS Shifted From Raiganj?
This is where the controversy began. According to political discussions and multiple reports, the Raiganj AIIMS project faced land acquisition problems, administrative delays, coordination failures, and complications between the State and Central governments.
Gradually, discussions started about shifting the project away from Raiganj. Eventually, the AIIMS-like institution was moved to Kalyani in Nadia district. Today, AIIMS Kalyani functions successfully, but the dream of AIIMS Raiganj disappeared completely.
For many people in North Bengal, this was not just a policy change — it became a symbol of lost opportunity. The decision deeply affected regional political emotions and strengthened the feeling that North Bengal was being neglected in comparison to South Bengal.
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The Political Debate Around the Raiganj AIIMS Issue
Congress Era and the Original Proposal
The original proposal emerged during the UPA government period. Senior Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who had strong influence in North Bengal politics, reportedly pushed for advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region. His illness exposed the poor condition of healthcare facilities in North Bengal and intensified demands for a major national medical institution.
Over time, the Raiganj AIIMS issue became a major political topic involving Congress, BJP, and Trinamool Congress.
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BJP vs TMC on North Bengal AIIMS Demand
Several BJP leaders have repeatedly demanded another AIIMS in North Bengal. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista publicly argued that North Bengal urgently requires a national-level healthcare institution because hospitals in Siliguri and surrounding regions remain under heavy pressure. BJP leaders in Raiganj also revived the AIIMS issue during elections and accused previous administrations of failing the region.
On the other hand, the Trinamool Congress government argues that healthcare infrastructure in Bengal has improved significantly over the years. The state government points to the establishment of multiple medical colleges, hospitals, and healthcare facilities across North Bengal, including Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital.
However, opposition parties and many residents argue that a standard medical college cannot replace an AIIMS-level institution with national research facilities, super speciality care, and world-class infrastructure.
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Why People of North Bengal Still Feel Angry
The Feeling of Regional Neglect
For decades, many people in North Bengal have believed that most development remains concentrated around Kolkata and South Bengal. This feeling became even stronger after the AIIMS project shifted away from Raiganj.
People often compare the two regions. South Bengal received larger investments, major hospitals, and better infrastructure, while North Bengal continued struggling with limited super speciality healthcare, fewer mega projects, and slower development.
Because of this, the phrase “North Bengal deprivation” became politically powerful and emotionally significant.
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The Healthcare Reality in North Bengal
Patients Still Travel Long Distances for Treatment
Even today, serious patients from Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Kishanganj, Islampur, and rural Raiganj areas often travel to Siliguri, Malda, or Kolkata for advanced treatment.
Many poor families spend their savings, borrow money, mortgage land, or take loans simply to save one family member. Sometimes treatment begins too late. Sometimes patients die before reaching a major hospital.
This painful reality is why the emotional demand for AIIMS in Raiganj still survives today.
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Raiganj Government Medical College: An Important Step but Not Enough
The establishment of Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital improved local healthcare access and medical education in the region. Emergency treatment facilities and government healthcare services became stronger.
However, many experts believe that a medical college is not equal to AIIMS. AIIMS institutions attract nationally recognized doctors, advanced research funding, international-level healthcare standards, massive employment opportunities, and large-scale economic growth.
This is why people still search online asking, “Will AIIMS return to Raiganj?”
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Demand for a Second AIIMS in West Bengal
Why the Demand Is Growing Again
The demand for a second AIIMS in West Bengal has grown stronger because North Bengal’s population continues to increase while healthcare pressure also rises rapidly. Hospitals in Siliguri remain overcrowded, and rural districts still lack advanced speciality treatment.
Political leaders across party lines now openly discuss the need for:
AIIMS in Siliguri
AIIMS in Raiganj
Advanced super speciality healthcare expansion in North Bengal
The issue is no longer forgotten. It remains alive in both public emotion and political discourse.
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The Economic Opportunity Raiganj Lost
If AIIMS had remained in Raiganj, the city could have experienced massive transformation. Experts believe the project would have created thousands of jobs for doctors, nurses, technicians, construction workers, researchers, and support staff.
The city’s economy could have expanded through hotels, pharmacies, transportation, housing projects, and new businesses. Educational growth would likely have included nursing institutes, medical coaching centres, biotechnology opportunities, and research infrastructure.
Many residents still believe that Raiganj lost its biggest development opportunity when the AIIMS project was shifted away.
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The Emotional Side of the Raiganj AIIMS Issue
Healthcare is emotional because it directly affects human survival. Almost every family in North Bengal knows someone who travelled overnight for treatment, waited outside crowded Kolkata hospitals, borrowed money for medical expenses, or lost a loved one because treatment came too late.
That is why AIIMS became more than a building for the people of North Bengal. It became a symbol of hope, dignity, and equality.
And when that hope disappeared, the anger remained.
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Will AIIMS Ever Return to North Bengal?
There is currently no official confirmation regarding a new AIIMS project in Raiganj. However, the political and public demand continues to grow.
As healthcare needs increase, experts believe North Bengal will eventually require another AIIMS, a regional cancer institute, advanced trauma centres, and a major medical research hub.
The question is no longer whether North Bengal needs AIIMS.
The real question is:
“How long will North Bengal have to wait?”