Thiruvananthapuram, 02 Nov (H.S.):

The political discussion surrounding the long-pending All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kerala has intensified following statements from Union Minister Suresh Gopi firmly rejecting Kozhikode as the designated venue. Interacting with reporters, the Union Minister questioned who had ever officially confirmed Kozhikode for the premier medical facility and explicitly declared that he had neither mentioned Kozhikode in the past nor would he endorse it going forward. When asked by media representatives to elaborate on why Kozhikode was being excluded from consideration, he cryptically remarked that the Central Bureau of Investigation would provide clarification on the matter at a later stage.

The stance taken by the Union Minister has highlighted visible differences within local political leadership. His reaction stands in direct contrast to recent observations made by BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had previously indicated that there was no hesitation or reluctance to support Kozhikode if the central government decided to establish the institute there.

The search for a suitable site for Kerala's AIIMS has been a complex process spanning over a decade. In 2014, following directives from the central government, the state government prepared and submitted a detailed proposal recommending four potential locations across the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode. By 2017, state authorities narrowed their primary recommendation to land owned by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation at Kinalur in Kozhikode district, framing it as the preferred choice for the landmark project.

Procedural movement on the project gathered fresh momentum in October 2024 when the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formally requested the Ministry of Finance to grant in-principle approval for establishing an AIIMS facility in Kerala. Building on this momentum, the state administration maintains that it is actively expediting all required ground procedures, including evaluating site specifications that adhere strictly to central guidelines and finalizing a comprehensive report for central review.

State Health Minister Muraleedharan reaffirmed that the government continues to anticipate a favorable outcome from the central authorities regarding the establishment of the institution. Addressing questions raised during a calling attention motion introduced by former minister G. Sudhakaran—who urged the government to consider alternative locations such as the Purakkad Manakkal paddy fields in Alappuzha district—the minister assured that comprehensive efforts were underway to meet all administrative requirements.

With competing geographical proposals from various districts and conflicting perspectives emerging from key leaders, the final selection of the site for Kerala's AIIMS remains a significant point of deliberation between state and central officials.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman