Union Health Ministry has granted its approval to set up the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bathinda.
The institute will come up on 175 acres of land of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) regional research centre identified by the Punjab Government on the outskirts of Bathinda city on the Dabwali road. Union Minister for Food Processing Industry and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal confirmed the development. The prestigious health institution will be developed under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Harsimrat said that PMSSY director Sudeep Srivastava had written to Punjab Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Vini Mahajan, confirming the approval and clearance to the proposed site.
“The Union Government has also asked the Punjab government about required infrastructure, roads, water and electricity supply at the identified site,” Harsimrat said.
She said that AIIMS would be a boon for the people of the Malwa region, which is considered as the cancer belt of the state.