Rajkot to get AIIMS soon, says Mandaviya

Rajkot: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said Gujarat's long-pending demand for an AIIMS (All India Institute Of Medical Science) will be fulfilled soon.

"Having AIIMS in the state is a long-pending demand from Gujarat. I recently met officials from health and home ministries and received a positive response about this issue. After these meetings, I can say with confidence that Rajkot will be given AIIMS very soon," he said here.

The Union MoS for Chemicals and Fertilizers inaugurated staff quarters for Rajkot Municipal Corporation's employees on Jamnagar Road and also inaugurated a fire station at Santoshi Nagar area here.

Mandaviya, who is also the MoS for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, said the Centre is looking positively into Gujarat's demand of having Pharma Park, fisheries harbour and ports connectivity with highways and assured that these projects will be set up in the state soon.

He said Alang ship breaking yard in Bhavnagar district will be developed, for which, a seminar will be organised in near future for industrialists engaged with the shipping industry to chalk out the road-map.

The minister also said the Centre has decided to set up nearly 1,000 centres under 'Pradhanmantri Jan-Aushadhi Yojna' to sell generic medicines at affordable rates.

"Under this project, generic medicines will be available at 50 per cent cheaper rate than the market rate, so that poor and needy people can get it easily," he added.