India, Jan. 1 -- The City Beautiful is on the cusp of a healthcare transformation as two of India's most advanced medical facilities enter their final countdown. With the Advanced Neuroscience Centre (ANC) and Mother and Child Care Centre (MCCC) now 99% physically complete, 2026 will be the year they evolve from architectural landmarks into life-saving realities. This Rs.485-crore expansion is set to double the institute's capacity for critical care, featuring the largest integrated brain-and-spine centre in the country and a state-of-the-art neonatal wing. What it means: The shift into 2026 marks the move from construction to commissioning. While 2025 focused on building shells, 2026 is about the "heart" of the facilities. The integration of Rs.150 crore in high-tech equipment donated by Infosys will bring robotic surgeries and a human milk bank to the region for the first time. By consolidating neurology and neurosurgery under one roof, PGIMER is moving toward a seamless care model that rivals international standards, significantly reducing the "referral wait" for the thousands of patients who travel from across North India daily. What next: The roadmap for the first quarter of 2026 is clear: Outpatient departments (OPDs) for both centres are slated to begin staggered operations as fire safety (NOC) and GRIHA green certifications are finalised. The PGI administration has resubmitted its proposal for AI-enabled diagnostic tools and is fast-tracking the hiring of 750 specialised medical and support staff. Once the full indoor services go live this spring, the burden on the main Nehru Hospital will plummet, finally providing patients with the quiet, specialised environment required for complex recoveries....