The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Central Government to submit a detailed timeline for the commencement and completion of the AIIMS hospital construction in Thoppur, Madurai.
This directive comes in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a local resident, Bhaskar. In his petition, Bhaskar pointed out that the site for the AIIMS hospital in Thoppur was selected on June 20, 2018, and the foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister on January 27, 2019. Despite these developments, there has been no significant progress in the construction work.
Bhaskar further highlighted that the Madurai Bench had previously issued orders to expedite the construction process. However, there has been no visible advancement, and funds have not been allocated for the project. He noted that, according to a 2015 announcement, AIIMS hospitals in other states have already been completed and are operational, while the Thoppur project remains stalled.
The Central Government, in its response, attributed the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic. They informed the court that a tender for the construction was issued on March 4, 2024, and the project is expected to be completed within 33 months from the commencement of construction.
The bench, comprising Justices R. Subramanian and L. Victoria Gowri, has now ordered the Central Government to set a clear timeline for the project. The Secretary of the Union Ministry of Health has been directed to submit a detailed response by September 24, specifying when the construction will begin and when it is expected to be completed.