Ahmedabad, June 12: Gujarat’s Health Minister, Praful Pansheriya, announced on Friday that the state government plans to develop two major institutions at the site of last year’s tragic plane crash, which claimed 260 lives and severely damaged nearby medical infrastructure in Ahmedabad. One center will focus on health, while the other will be dedicated to education.
On the first anniversary of the Ahmedabad crash, Minister Pansheriya paid tribute to the victims and expressed condolences to their families. He stated that the crash site is entirely under the jurisdiction of the health department and the government.
After discussions with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, the proposal for the two institutions was finalized.
Pansheriya revealed that one of the proposed facilities will be a ‘Health Temple’ designed to treat spinal injuries, which will also include hostel accommodations for students and doctors. The second facility, termed an ‘Education Temple,’ will support medical education infrastructure. This project will also feature housing, a mess, and related amenities for super-specialist medical students.
Plans for the Health Temple include additional hostel space for future super-specialist doctors, hospital facilities, and student accommodations.
The minister further explained that the project will be divided into two phases, with an investment exceeding ₹500 crore for the construction of the proposed health and education facilities.
On June 12 last year, Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft crashed in the Meghani Nagar area, colliding with buildings associated with BJ Medical College and nearby residential and hostel complexes linked to the health department.
The incident resulted in the deaths of 241 passengers and crew members, along with 19 individuals on the ground, totaling 260 fatalities.
According to officials, the crash caused significant structural damage to the ‘Atulyam 1 to 4’ hostel blocks, canteen, and substation buildings near the Civil Hospital in Asarwa. At the time, approximately 92 students were residing in the hostel. A subsequent structural audit deemed the buildings unsafe, leading to plans for their demolition.
In response, the state government has decided to implement a major redevelopment plan to reconstruct the damaged hostel infrastructure. This will include a modern super-specialty postgraduate hostel complex for doctors and enhanced facilities aimed at strengthening the state’s medical education and healthcare capabilities.
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