Centre okays AIIMS at Bibinagar

​Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Central government has given approval on Thursday for establishing AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) at Bibinagar on city outskirts. Telangana government was told to acquire another 49 acres of adjacent land for this project. 

A written communication to this effect was sent from Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to A Shanti Kumari, principal secretary (Health, Medical and Family Welfare), Telangana government on Thursday (July 26).

Health Minister Dr Laxma Reddy thanked Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, TRS MPs in New Delhi for pursuing this project. TRS MP Boora Narsaiah Goud said in New Delhi that Telangana government was prepared to fulfill all conditions asked by the Union ministry.

It may be mentioned here KCR was keen on handing over NIMS Bibinagar for setting up the prestigious national institute and accordingly proposal was sent from state government to Union Health Ministry. After that, a high-level Central delegation visited Bibinagar on May 31 and inspected NIMS Bibinagar premises. The five-member team comprised.

AIIMS, New Delhi Superintendent Dr DK Sharma, Prime Minister Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) director Sachin Mittal, Raebareli AIIMS Superintending Engineer GP Srivastava, Central family welfare department Architect Mukesh Bajpayee.

Telangana officials showed the land and also the five-story NIMS Bibinagar building in which out-patient services were being run for the last two years. The Central team told Telangana health department officials that they would get back on the proposal after few weeks and accordingly final decision was conveyed on Thursday.

Telangana government has been asked to hand over the land free of encroachments to the Centre along with the partially completed hospital building (NIMS Bibinagar) existing there. In addition, it asked the state government to acquire adjacent land to the extent of 49 acres too. It has to ensure power and water supply too additionally. A four-lane approach road is to be laid to the proposed institute. Once the state government conveys its intent to comply with conditions, further moves would be taken, the letter said.

Extent of NIMS Bibinagar is nearly 151 acres. Since 200 acres is mandatory for establishing AIIMS, Telangana government has been asked to acquire additional land and fulfill land criteria.

The present building (G+4) was lying unused for nearly six to seven years from 2009. However, TRS government took steps to start OP services from March 2016 for nearly seven departments like medicine, gynaecology, orthopedic, cardiology and surgery. Nearly 50,000 out-patients were treated in the last two years at this hospital.