Expedite works to turn AIIMS at Bibinagar operational soon: Congress

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Friday demanded that the Central and State Governments take immediate measures to turn All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bibi Nagar operational soon.

"NIMS at Bibinagar was sanctioned in 2009 by the then Congress regime. Rs. 100 crore were also sanctioned initially and more funds were allocated and spent later. Although a magnificent buildings of 7 lakh sq ft spread over 160 acres of land was ready by 2014, the TRS Government did nothing to operationalise the hospital. Even after five years, such a large facility is not rendering required services to the needy patients," said Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy in a media statement on Friday.

Gudur Narayana Reddy said that the previous Congress-led UPA Government had sanctioned one AIIMS institution for Telangana in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. However, the TRS Government, especially the local MP Dr. B. Narsaiah Goud, did not take up the matter with the Centre. "The local MP never raised the issue in the Parliament nor did he give any representation to the Centre or State Governments asking them to operationalise the facility at the earliest. His silence has not only delayed the projects, but deprived lakhs of poor patients an access to best medical facilities," he said.

The Congress leader said that the pace with which previous Congress Government sanctioned and construction the Bibinagar NIMS showed its concern for public health. However, he said that the sitting MP of TRS did nothing after the State Government decided to turn NIMS at Bibinagar to AIIMS. He said while the previous Congress Government established such a huge facility in less than five years, it took much more time for the TRS only to implement a simple decision. He said it was highly unfortunate that such a large facility at Bibinagar was lying almost idle due to the negligence and lethargic attitude of TRS Government, especially the local MP who remained focussed improving his own economic status.

Gudur Narayana Reddy said that the Central Government should expedite all the works pertaining to upgrading NIMS at Bibinagar to AIIMS and ensure that it becomes fully operational in shortest possible time. "Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao is talking about handling India while he is unable to address the issues concerning Telangana State. He was unable to operationalise a medical institution in five years which was ready with civic infrastructures and other facilities. First let KCR address all issues of Telangana and then talk about national politics," he said while advising TRS to adopt a cautious approach in its second term. "People sometimes give benefit of doubt if someone fails to do something in their first attempt. But people don't forgive if you fail in second attempt too. Therefore, KCR must realise that this is his last change to either perform or perish," he said.