The government may have changed, but challenges in expanding Delhi’s health infrastructure seem to persist.After the BJP came to power in Delhi in February, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that over 1,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs would be inaugurated across the city by March 2026, under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.As part of the plan, the government is working to upgrade the existing porta cabin mohalla clinics — set up during the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime — into permanent concrete structures. Additionally, several Delhi government dispensaries and polyclinics will also be converted into Arogya Mandirs.However, much like the AAP government’s struggles with setting up mohalla clinics, the new project is running into familiar obstacles.One, several civic bodies and departments are yet to issue No-Objection Certificates (NoCs) for sites identified earlier this year to set up the clinics. Other challenges have also cropped up: geographical suitability, funding constraints and inter-department issues.According to officials, 925 sites under various departments and corporations — Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi government, Gram Sabha, New Delhi Municipal Council and others — were originally proposed for setting up Arogya Mandirs.Of these, data showed, NoCs have been given only to 224 sites while 110 locations have been found non-feasible.Story continues below this adOf the total sites identified, the highest, 429, were under MCD — and only 98 have got NOCs. As for the remaining locations, data shows, 108 locations were found ‘not pertaining’ to the MCD while 61 sites were not identified. Further, the civic body has not given NOCs to 162 sites.“Discrepancies have been observed between the total number of sites identified, NOCs obtained and feasibility… Apart from this, there are land issues… while ensuring optimal site selection as per Indian Public Health Standards to avoid proximity to other already existing health facilities,” said a senior official.Officials said they are also facing funding issues in some places as there is cap of Rs 25 lakh per centre for upgradation, which prevents their development.Officials further said they are facing inter-department issues. “All departments, excluding MCD, have their own engineering wings and have declined to undertake upgradation work through their internal units,” said an official.Story continues below this adFollowing the challenges, officials said, the Health Department proposed 334 new sites — 133 under MCD, 104 under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, 31 under DDA, 60 under DoE and 7 at already existing MCD allopathic centres.Health Minister Pankaj Singh didn’t respond to queries seeking comment.