The long-awaited formal inauguration of the sprawling new campus of the Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) is finally scheduled for January 7, marking a significant milestone for medical education in the region. This event comes despite the fact that the institute has been actively functioning, with students attending classes, for the past two and a half years.
Political Delays and High-Profile Attendance
The official opening ceremony was postponed multiple times, primarily due to coordination issues between the state and Union governments. The event is now expected to be graced by high-profile dignitaries including Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Medical Education Minister Sharan Parkash Patil. The foundation stone for this ambitious project was laid by former chief minister BS Yediyurappa during his tenure.
Sources indicate that after the BJP's defeat in the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections, there was little interest from the party in inaugurating the campus. Conversely, it is also claimed that the Union government did not grant necessary permissions during this period. Former MLA Shivaraj Sajjanar alleged that while the BJP government sanctioned the project, the Congress government had previously neglected it.
Escalating Costs and Project Details
The financial scale of the HIMS project has seen substantial revisions since its conception. The initial estimate in March 2020 pegged the cost at Rs 365 crore. This was later revised, with a total allocation of Rs 478.5 crore approved for construction, equipment, and infrastructure. In a significant cost escalation, the building construction cost alone, after a Rs 118 crore revision, rose to Rs 499 crore. To date, Rs 468 crore has been spent on construction.
The project follows a 60:40 grant-in-aid sharing pattern between the Union and state governments. It is located on the outskirts of Haveri city, within Devagiriyallapur jurisdiction, spread over 53 acres of government land. An additional 7 acres was acquired for a connecting road. The project was executed by Bengaluru-based KBR Infratech.
Campus Ready and Operational
Despite the inauguration delay, the campus has been fully operational academically since the 2022–23 academic year. The institute is currently hosting its fourth batch of MBBS students and has established more than 20 departments.
According to Shivanand Patil, the minister in-charge of Haveri district, all major infrastructure is complete. This includes:
- A and B administration blocks and classrooms
- Separate hostels for boys and girls
- Quarters for teaching, non-teaching, and nursing staff
- Residences for the dean and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
- Landscaping and plantation work
The only pending work is the campus fencing, Patil confirmed, adding that the inauguration was postponed last year due to some minor pending works. The January 7 event thus culminates a journey marked by political hurdles, financial revisions, and ultimately, the successful establishment of a crucial medical education hub in Haveri.
