Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate Gujarat’s inaugural All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot on February 25. This event marks the dedication of five new AIIMS across the country, with the Rajkot facility being highlighted on this significant day. The announcement was made during a press conference in Gandhinagar, where it was also revealed that Modi would launch the in-patient department (IPD) of this state-of-the-art hospital situated in Para Pipaliya, just outside Rajkot. The outpatient department (OPD) of this hospital is already serving patients.
The foundation stone for AIIMS Rajkot was laid by Modi via video conferencing in December 2020. Spanning 201 acres, this cutting-edge medical facility boasts 720 beds, inclusive of ICU and super-specialty beds. On February 25, Modi is scheduled to officially open 250 IPD beds, alongside a 30-bed AYUSH building, and 23 operating theaters.
Patel outlined a phased plan to introduce the remaining beds and highlighted that the OPD has already catered to approximately 144,000 patients since its opening. The construction of the hospital, which cost Rs 1,195 crore, underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare infrastructure.
The prime minister is expected to arrive at AIIMS Rajkot in the afternoon of February 25 and will address a public rally at the Race Course field in Rajkot later that evening. Furthermore, a roadshow is planned from the rally site to the old airport, covering a distance of one kilometer.
At the event, Modi will also virtually launch four other AIIMS located in Kalyani (West Bengal), Bathinda (Punjab), Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), as informed by Patel. These inaugurations, including the Rajkot facility, represent a significant investment of Rs 6,300 crore by the central government in the nation’s healthcare sector.
Additionally, Modi is expected to lay the foundation for various projects worth Rs 48,000 crore spanning multiple ministries at the federal and state levels, including significant allocations for Gujarat amounting to Rs 35,700 crore. Among these projects are the establishment of a new cardiology department in Vadodara, enhancement of the Rajkot-Surendranagar railway line, the Mundra Panipat crude oil pipeline, and energy projects in Kutch, showcasing a broad spectrum of development initiatives across the country.
