Archive · 5 Nov 2025
AIIMS Bhopal's Rs 10 Lakh Drone Project Grounded for 20 Months
A hospital spent a lot of money on a special drone to fly medicines to faraway villages really fast.
It even made a successful first trip, taking medicine to a health center and bringing back a blood sample.
But then, the person who was supposed to fly it got hurt, and the drone hasn't flown since, for about a year and a half.
The hospital says they still want to use drones, maybe even better ones that can fly much farther.
They are looking for new companies to help them.
People who live in the villages are disappointed because they were hoping this drone would make getting medicine easier and save them time and travel costs.
A Rs 10 lakh drone, intended for rapid medicine delivery from AIIMS Bhopal to remote villages, has been non-operational for approximately 20 months.
The drone successfully completed an inaugural flight in February 2024, delivering medicines within 20 minutes to a PHC 39 km away and returning with a blood sample.
The project is currently stalled due to the absence of an operator and has not undergone further testing since the initial trial phase.
AIIMS Bhopal administration acknowledges the project's halt but states it is not abandoned, with plans to issue an 'Expression of Interest' for advanced drone companies to resume the initiative with increased range.
Patients and their families are frustrated by the grounding of the drone, which prevents potential time and cost savings for accessing timely medical care.
- Who
- AIIMS Bhopal administration and patients/families in surrounding villages.
- What
- A Rs 10 lakh drone project intended for rapid medicine delivery from AIIMS Bhopal to remote villages has been non-operational for approximately 20 months.
- When
- The inaugural flight occurred in February 2024, but the project has been grounded for about 20 months since.
- Where
- AIIMS Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, with proposed delivery to remote villages.
- Why
- The project stalled after a trial phase due to the lack of a dedicated operator following an injury, the need for more advanced and costly drone technology for longer distances, and bureaucratic inertia.
AIIMS Bhopal Administration
Patients and Families
Project Status and Future
AIIMS Bhopal Administration
AIIMS Bhopal acknowledges the project has stalled but is not abandoned. They are preparing an 'Expression of Interest' to seek advanced drone companies for a next phase, aiming to increase the delivery distance to 200 kilometers and potentially serve remote tribal regions with poor road access.
Patients and Families
Patients and families express frustration with the drone service's inaccessibility, noting that the promised faster medical care remains unfulfilled. They continue to face travel expenses and delays in accessing timely treatment.
Reasons for Grounding
AIIMS Bhopal Administration
The project stalled after a trial phase due to the absence of an operator after one employee was injured. The administration states that for commercial operations, a drone company's value needs to be considered, requiring more advanced and potentially costly drones for longer distances. They are awaiting government communication and proposals from drone companies.
Patients and Families
Patients and families perceive the grounding as a result of systemic failure and bureaucratic inertia, which has prevented the project from becoming operational despite its potential benefits for people in remote areas.
- Project Cost
- Rs 10 Lakh
- Inaugural Flight Date
- February 2024
- Trial Distance
- 39 kilometers (to Gauharganj PHC)
- Trial Delivery Time
- 20 minutes
- Intended Operational Frequency
- Five days a week (claimed)
- Current Status
- Non-operational for approx. 20 months
- Proposed Future Distance
- Up to 200 kilometers