Telangana to make Bibinagar Nims into Aiims

KCR keen to develop it as smart health city

Hyderabad: After a detailed exercise, the Telangana government has decided to convert the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (Nims) at Bibinagar in Nalgonda district, into an All-India Institute of medical Sciences (Aiims). Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday made an announcement to this effect during his visit to the Nims Hospital at Bibinagar.

The Chief Minister said that as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, the Telangana State has been promised Aiims. He revealed that the existing building and vacant land will be handed over to Aiims. KCR said that the location would be quite appropriate for setting up Aiims as Bibinagar is ideally located and has good connectivity through Warangal Highway and the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

Speaking to The Hans India over phone, Deputy Chief Minister T Rajaiah said: “An Aiims was sanctioned to undivided AP. Soon after formation of Telangana, our MPs have convinced the Union government of the necessity to have another Aiims for the new state, as AP is better developed in terms of health infrastructure”.

Rajaiah added that the state government would forward a proposal to the Centre requesting it to consider Bibinagar as the location for Aiims. The Deputy Chief Minister expressed the hope that the Centre would accept the proposal as location was zeroed in on by the Chief Minister himself.

As per the central government norms, Aiims requires an area of 200 acres. The government took up a detailed study over the last two months on how to make the entire area surrounding Aiims into a ‘smart city’ with health services as the main focus. For this purpose, it is looking to acquire an area of 1,000 acres. On its conversion into Aiims, Bibinagar NIMS will naturally get approvals for a medical college, a nursing institute and other related institutions.

The State Government has already identified about 400 acres in Bibinagar and Kondamadugu areas and it can acquire some more land, as per the assessment done. Highly-placed sources said that the Chief Minister is keen to turn the area into a health city by locating hospitals for diseases like cancer.

Speaking to The Hans India, Nims Director Dr Narendra Nath said: “I am very happy that a well thought-out decision has been taken. The health institute will take care of the health needs of people in and around Bibinagar.”Deputy Chief Minister Dr T. Rajaiah, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Bhongir MP Burra Narsaiah Goud, Parliamentary Secretary Gadari Kishore, State Medical and Health Secretary Suresh Chandra and Nims Director Dr Narendra Nath were present.

MLAs Shekhar Reddy, G Sunitha, M. Sudheer Reddy and Prabhakar Reddy, Legislative Council vice-chairman Nethi Vidyasagar, MLCs Karne Prabhakar and P Ravinder, ZP chairman Balu Naik and others were also present during KCR's visit.

By:C Anand Kumar Reddy