VISAKHAPATNAM : Rajya Sabha member T Subbarami Reddy laid the foundation stone for the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Aganampudi Friday. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) had allotted 77-acre site to the hospital and research centre. In fact, the APIIC had acquired the land for Volkswagen car manufacturing unit.
Subbarami Reddy brought the project to Visakhapatnam when he was chairman of the parliamentary committee on science, technology, environment and forest. The out-patient services had already started from an air-conditioned mobile container with sufficient staff and doctors on the same spot. On an average, 30 patients utilise the services daily.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 571 crore, would be completed in three phases by 2019. The civil construction works would cost Rs 171 crore and advanced equipment and other infrastructure would be procured with Rs 400 crore. The first phase of civil construction works of 100 beds is expected to be completed in one-and-a-half years.
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On the occasion, Reddy expressed happiness and said that once the project was completed, cancer patients need not go to Mumbai or other cities for treatment. A Dharmasala (choultry) was also coming up for the convenience of patients who need surgery and their attendants. The attendants would be provided food at free of cost in Dharmasala, Subbarami Reddy said. Hospital regional director Raghunadharao congratulated Subbarami Reddy and said that Reddy had taken several pains to bring the project to Vizag.
