THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While five months have passed since the state government sent details of four shortlisted sites to Centre for setting up proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Union Health Ministry is yet to send its team of experts for checking the feasibility and accessibility of these locations.
The Cabinet, in July, had short-listed four of the six sites submitted by Revenue Minister Mr Adoor Prakash for setting up AIIMS.
“Our detailed proposal is before the Centre. But it has not sent any expert team to examine the places earmarked for the project yet,” Health Secretary K Elangovan told DC.
The following sites, each with an area of over 200 acres, were short-listed; Thiruvananthapuram Nettukaltheri, Kottayam near Medical College, Ernakulam HMT land Kalamassery and Kozhikode KSIDC land at Kinaloor. With Health Minister favouring a centrally located site, Kochi stood a better chance.
The HMT land is accessible to people living in southern and northern districts compared to Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode locations.
Sources said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan’s visit to the state in September had a positive impact.
“Our teams will soon start inspecting the sites and assessing the feasibility and accessibility factor. We will finalise the site in most objective manner in consultation with the state government,’’ he had then said.
But after he was replaced by Jagat Prakash Nadda, things appear to have slowed down considerably.
Experts say an estimated Rs 850 crore would be required for setting up AIIMS comprising 1000 bed facility, all super specialities, ICUs, trauma care units, alternative medicine besides intake of about 100 students for MBBS.
