Gautam Adani Launches ₹150 Crore Rural Vision Care Initiative in Bihar with Capacity for 3.3 Lakh Surgeries Annually, Commits An Additional ₹500 Crore for Nationwide Expansion

Gautam Adani inaugurates a major rural eye care initiative in Bihar, funding ACE and ATOM to deliver affordable eye treatment, train 1,000 professionals annually, and perform up to 3.3 lakh surgeries each year, alongside a new 200-bed hospital plan.

Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, on Saturday launched a major rural vision care initiative in Bihar with an investment of ₹150 crore aimed at creating one of the world’s largest rural eye care ecosystems.

The foundation stone for the project was laid in Mastichak, around 70 kilometres from Patna, in the presence of Priti Adani and Mritunjay Tiwary. The initiative will establish the Adani Centre for Eye (ACE) and Adani Training in Ophthalmic Medicine (ATOM) in partnership with the Akhand Jyoti Foundation. The project is expected to provide capacity for 3.3 lakh eye surgeries annually while training nearly 1,000 eye health professionals every year.

According to the announcement, ACE will function as an advanced eye treatment and surgical centre focused on affordable care, complex procedures and large-scale rural outreach. ATOM will focus on developing trained manpower including optometrists, ophthalmic assistants and community healthcare workers to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure.

During the event, a fleet of 10 patient transport buses was also flagged off to improve last-mile vision care access across remote villages in Bihar and neighbouring regions. Speaking on the occasion, Gautam Adani said the initiative reflects the philosophy of "Seva Hi Saadhna Hai", describing service as a long-term commitment towards building compassionate institutions for society. He said restoring eyesight is not just a medical intervention but also a way to restore dignity, confidence and hope.

As part of the expansion plan, Adani also announced an additional personal commitment of ₹500 crore and the creation of the "Adani Akhand Jyoti Foundation" to scale affordable vision care and community healthcare initiatives across underserved regions of India.

The total investment outlay, including operational expenditure, is expected to exceed ₹700 crore. The Adani Foundation also announced plans to establish a 200-bed hospital in Pirpainti in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district near the group’s upcoming 2,400 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant. The hospital is expected to strengthen healthcare access in eastern Bihar.

The initiative comes as the Adani Group continues to expand its investment footprint in Bihar with cumulative investments and planned commitments estimated at nearly ₹40,000 crore. These include the Pirpainti thermal power project, smart meter installations in northern Bihar through Adani Energy Solutions Limited, city gas distribution networks in Gaya and Nalanda through Indian Oil Adani Gas Private Limited, and cement grinding units in Nawada and Muzaffarpur districts.

Founded in 2005 as a 30-bed facility, the Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital has emerged as a leading rural eye care institution and has reportedly conducted over 14 lakh sight-restoring surgeries.

The initiative also aligns with the Government of India’s National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment and aims to create a scalable community-driven model for affordable eye care delivery across rural India.