In an attempt to counter its chronic space deficit, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, is seeking to acquire land adjacent to the Safdarjung Airport for establishing a centralized logistics hub. The proposal involves remodeling the institute's supply chain management and warehousing facilities.
Major Developments
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- AIIMS Director Dr. M Srinivas also issued an internal order that revealed the acute lack of space for shops and logistics in the main campus.
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- Temporary solutions like the recycling of vacant residential units are becoming impossible since the units are being refurbished to host new residents.
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- The new logistics park would be located on plots available close to Safdarjung Airport, offering proximity and connectivity advantages.
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- The hub will likely streamline distribution, procurement, and inventory chains in AIIMS departments, streamlining operations.
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Strategic significance
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- Safdarjung is optimal due to proximity to AIIMS and potential integration with airport logistics in the future.
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- A centralized hub would reduce fragmentation of supply and storage activities, presently dispersed in ad-hoc locations
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- The initiative is part of AIIMS's larger modernization drive, including digital health programs and infrastructure development.
Next Steps
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- The Director has instructed the Superintending Engineer and Additional Director (Admin) to examine the viability of purchasing the land plot.
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- Land assessment and stakeholder consultation should then be conducted, with emphasis on urban planning coordination and regulatory permits.
Sources: The New Indian Express, AIIMS Official Memorandum