VIJAYAWADA: Stressing that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) coming up at Mangalagiri is ‘a precious and a valuable gift’ from the Central government to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda said that the outpatient department (OPD) services at the institute are expected to be launched by January, 2019. The entire project, he said, is expected to be completed by February, 2020.
Speaking to the media after reviewing the progress of the construction at the project site on Friday, the Union Minister said, “AIIMS, Mangalagiri, is one among the 13 institutes being established across the country as part of providing comprehensive healthcare. I consider AIIMS, Mangalagiri, which is one of the biggest projects in terms of expenditure, to be a precious and a valuable gift from the Central government to the people of AP.”
The institute, being built with Rs 1,618 crore, will be ready two months in advance than expected. “The actual deadline is March, 2019, but the pace at which the works are going on, the OPD, residential and hostel facilities will be ready by January,” he explained.
The Union minister further said, “I am happy to note that the classes for the first batch of 50 students will begin from 2018-19 academic year. The counselling process is going on and the classes will begin in August.”
However, the classes will be held at Siddhartha Medical College in Vijayawada, where temporary building is being built by the State government with Rs 6 crore. Elaborating on the efforts being taken by the Centre, Nadda said that he had given all administrative approvals for recruiting the best faculty.