Fuel burn: PGI ferries 800 by bus from remote spots in Himachal Pradesh for outreach, parks telemedicine.

Chandigarh: The region’s premier medical institute has drawn sharp internal criticism for busing hundreds of school students across fuel-intensive mountain terrains for an outreach programme, defying its own digital infrastructure and regional fuel-conservation directives.

The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) transported 837 students and 71 teachers from remote districts of Himachal Pradesh under "Project Sarathi”, despite a nationwide push to reduce fuel consumption during a national economic crisis.

Critics within the faculty highlighted that the the institute's advanced telemedicine facilities could have connected the remote students digitally, saving thousands of litres of fuel. The heavy transport footprint occurred during an internal austerity drive in which the PGI is encouraging its staffers to ride bicycles to work to minimise carbon emissions and preserve state resources.

Administrative Defence

Hospital management defended the logistics, emphasising the social value of the outreach initiative over remote alternatives.

“These visits were planned in phased batches to ensure meaningful interaction and smooth hospital functioning," said Pankaj Rai, PGI’s deputy director of administration. "For many students, this was their first exposure to a large public healthcare institute. Such experiences broaden perspectives, build confidence, and help children understand their responsibilities towards society.”

The programme brought the groups to the Chandigarh campus across four separate days, targeting remote areas including Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, and Manali.