While there are four other locations in Tamil Nadu identified for the proposed AIIMS, trade bodies in the district have urged the Central government to give priority to Thoppur.
The other locations proposed by the State government are Pudukottai in Pudukottai district, Perundurai in Erode district, Sengipatti in Thanjavur district and Chengalpettu in Kancheepuram district.
While around 200 acres of land has been identified for the setting up of the AIIMS in Thoppur, Collector L. Subramanian assured the inspection team that more than 60 acres of land was available, if needed for future expansion.
Trade bodies have said that south Tamil Nadu is in dire need of super speciality hospitals, more of which are found in other parts of the State.
Memorandum
In a memorandum submitted to the central inspection team, the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Thoppur was well equipped with all the necessary infrastructural facilities.
“Out of the five places, this site has the closest proximity to an airport, which will promote medical tourism and provide quick transportation facilities for patients,” the memorandum from senior president S. Rethinavelu said.
The chamber further said that an institute like the AIIMS was needed for the specialised treatment of industry-related ailments stemming from granite polishing, food processing and dyeing and many of these units were in south Tamil Nadu.
Stating that the establishment of a super speciality hospital would benefit the southern districts, S.P. Jeyapragasam, president of the Tamil Nadu Food Grains Merchants’ Association, said that people from southern districts were forced to travel more than 600 km to access facilities in Chennai at present.
V.S. Manimaranm, president, Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries’ Association, said in a memorandum that access to world class health facilities for people below the poverty line was the need of the hour.
“Medical educational facilities too will get a fillip with the presence of AIIMS and postgraduate medical education at the AIIMS in particular would greatly benefit students in the district,” he said.
