AIIMS project site in Tamil Nadu to be decided in 2 months

Chennai: Tamil Nadu will be announcing its AIIMS site in two months, after all the controversy that has surrounded it ever since the proposal of starting an AIIMS in the state has come up.

Union Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Kumar Choubey said. "It was announced in 2016-17 that Tamil Nadu would have a medical college. At that time, the Tamil Nadu government had identified five places. In two months, we will take a decision and within three to four months we hope to have the Prime Minister for the Bhoomi puja [ground-breaking ceremony]."

The ministerial announcement comes after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court instructed the centre to announce the location, for the coming up AIIMS, and live up to its promise of setting one up in the state.

Immersed in controversy, the location has been a bone of contention between the two groups; with one insisting that it be set up in Madurai, while the other speaking of Thanjavur, as the destination place for it.

After the state government identifying 5 locations, the central government's inspection team visited all the 5; finally settling on Sengipatti, near Thanjavur. The site was chosen as it had good road, air and rail connectivity, besides being centrally located. The other asset was the government being able to provide sufficient land, water and electricity at the chosen site.

However, the project was set aside when the government /ruling party disapproved of the site, wanting to establish the new AIIMS building- at Madurai.

However, court intervention and direction to the centre to reach a decision regarding the same by the 31^st of December is likely to change the reflection of things to come.

The Government Medical College attached to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai has already received Rs 150 crore as booty for up gradation.

Meanwhile, the ongoing project of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency for upgrading equipment and facilities has granted Rs. 300 crore to the Tertiary Care Hospital, the state Health Minister has pointed out.

Following his visit to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Mr Choubey at a press conference revealed that the up gradation of medical colleges was progressing well.

He said 80% of the work on Madurai Medical College had been completed, while work on the Salem Medical College was already complete and the super speciality hospital facilities were at par with those available in AIIMS.

He said approximately 35% of the up gradation work in Thanjavur and Tirunelveli Medical Colleges, was complete as well, reports the Hindu.

Read Also: TN Minister confident AIIMS hospital will come up in Madurai

Read Also: Madras High Court moved for setting up AIIMS in Madurai