Kerala is keenly awaiting the Union Budget’s announcement on the State government’s recent proposal to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Kinalur near Balussery in Kozhikode, as well as the long-pending demand to revive the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (Nirdesh) at Chaliyam near Beypore.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had sought in-principle approval from the Finance Ministry for setting up AIIMS. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier written a letter to the Centre saying that around 200 acres of unused land with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) had been made available for the project. Another 100 acres would also be acquired for the purpose.
In 2014, M.K. Raghavan, MP, had taken up the proposal to set up AIIMS at Kinalur Industrial Estate with the former Union Health Minister. Then the State government had identified locations in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kalamassery in Ernakulam district.
