J&K Budget Session 2026: Government Allocates ₹17 Lakh for Urgent Renovation of MMCH Zakoora to Revive Healthcare Services
JAMMU, April 04, 2026 — In a significant move to bolster local healthcare infrastructure, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, announced today that the government has released ₹17 lakh for the immediate repair and renovation of the Mini Maternity-cum-Child Care Hospital (MMCH) in Zakoora.
Addressing a Calling Attention Notice moved by Legislator Salman Sagar during the 2026 Budget Session, the Minister detailed the government’s roadmap to make the long-delayed facility operational.
She explained that while a substantial budget of ₹299.98 lakh had been sanctioned as early as 2022, the project faced a major standstill after security forces occupied the building in 2019, preventing the utilization of previously released funds.
Following the vacation of the premises by security forces in 2025, the building was found to be in urgent need of restoration to meet medical standards. Minister Itoo informed the House that the current allocation of ₹17 lakh has been approved under the UT Capex Budget 2025-26 specifically for the project titled “Balance Work at MMC Zakura Srinagar.”
While the Public Works Department (PWD) had initially submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) estimated at ₹10 crore, the government deemed the figure excessive and has since directed the department to prepare a more cost-effective and revised DPR to ensure the project remains financially viable.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prioritizing maternal and child healthcare in the region, noting that once the revised DPR is finalized, full-scale renovation work will commence at the earliest.
The goal is to transform the building into a fully functional hospital, providing essential medical services to the residents of Zakoora and its surrounding habitations.
By streamlining the renovation process and ensuring prudent fiscal management, the administration aims to rectify the years of stagnation caused by the building’s prior occupation and finally deliver on its promise of enhanced patient care.