Nearly three years after it was announced, the proposed Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology unit in Belagavi remains stalled, with no construction progress despite budgetary allocation and administrative clearance.
The project was allocated ₹50 crore in the 2022–23 financial year to build a cancer hospital on four acres near the Primary Health Centre in Vadagaon. Initially, the Health Department Commissioner had announced this site during a visit in 2022. However, by September 2022, the district administration indicated that hospital authorities preferred the new unit to be constructed on the BIMS Hospital campus, a decision that later received administrative approval.
Belagavi (South) MLA Abhay Patil, instrumental in advocating for the hospital in his constituency, has continued to push for its establishment. Yet, despite official backing and funding, the project has remained confined to paper, with no physical progress reported.
District-in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi acknowledged the delay and assured action. “I will look into the current status and make efforts to start the project as soon as possible,” he said, addressing public frustration over the prolonged inaction.
The delay in execution of such a critical healthcare infrastructure has raised concerns, especially given the increasing burden of cancer cases in North Karnataka, where access to specialized oncology care remains limited.
Residents and public health advocates are now demanding immediate intervention to ensure the long-promised Kidwai unit sees the light of day.
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