Centre approves AIIMS-like project at Kalyani in WB

The Centre has approved West Bengal government's proposal to set up an AIIMS-like institution at Kalyani's Basantapur in Nadia district, a senior official of the state Health Department said today.
"The Union Health ministry has approved the land suggested by state government for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (like) project in Kalyani, 50 kms off Kolkata. The Centre has also sought state's assistance for providing basic infrastructure," the official said.
The official also confirmed that the preliminary work (laying of the boundary wall, levelling of land, including landfill, power and water supply), the initial responsibility of the state government, would start in the next financial year.

A 150-acre land has been identified for the project with an estimated project cost of over Rs 800 crore, he said.
"The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is yet to be prepared, so the exact budget for it cannot be ascertained right now. But it may cross the Rs 800-crore mark," the official said.
Talking about the time frame for completion of the project, the state official said, "It's expected that some of the operations will be started within three years' time. I think it will take five years to complete it."
The Kalyani project is one of the four similar projects announced by Union Finance Minster Arun Jaitley during presentation of the Budget for 2014-15. The other three being in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Vidarbha (Maharashtra) and Poorvanchal (UP).

Former Union Minister Deepa Dasmunshi during the previous UPA-II rule at the Centre had tried to take the project to Raiganj, her constituency, in North Dinajpur district but the Trinamool Congress government in the state requested the Centre to set up the facility at Kalyani on the ground of it being closer to the city.