VIJAYAWADA: The State government has big plans for development of the healthcare sector in Amaravati with the intention to transform the capital region into a hub for health tourism.
Several prospective investors, mainly B.R. Shetty Group (BRSG) and Indo-UK Institute of Health (IUKIH), have already evinced interest in setting up their state-of-the-art hospitals and also shopping malls and convention centres at huge costs, according to A.P. Economic Development Board (EDB) CEO J. Krishna Kishore.
A man with deep pockets, B.R. Shetty, Chairman of the Dubai-based BRSG, has offered to build hospitals with a total bed strength of 3,500, a 5-star hotel, a shopping mall, a 10,000-seat convention centre, service apartments, and an 18-hole international golf course in Amaravati with nearly ₹12,500 crore investment.
The BRSG will have to get its offer through competitive bidding even as the EDB is receiving a host of enquiries from entities looking to earn their share in the pie. The BRSG’s will be the biggest investment as on date in A.P. in healthcare.
Mr. Kishore told The Hindu that the IUKIH proposed to set up a 1,000-bed hospital and a research centre as part of its foray into Amaravati. Top executives of the company have come up with concrete proposals, which are being looked into.
“The Chief Minister has given due priority to healthcare and those keen on investing in the Sunrise State are not only flush with funds but also have advanced medical technologies, with whose help A.P. wants to improve the public health profile,” said Mr. Kishore.
Bengaluru–based Moham Group, another diversified company which has a significant presence in the healthcare sector spanning hospitals to medical R&D institutions, is another entity that unveiled its plans for Amaravati.
All these proposals have made some progress with the Department of Industries and the EDB pursuing them at the highest level and promising to play the desired facilitating role.
With the slew of incentives and other policy interventions, the government is confident that the healthcare sector will attract the best of talent, technologies and the much–needed investments.
