One step closer to Kerala AIIMS: Kozhikode land transferred to Directorate of Medical Education

Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant move towards establishing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kozhikode, the state government has officially transferred 61.34 hectares of land to the Directorate of Medical Education. The land, spread over Kinalur and Kanthalad villages of Kozhikode, is designated for the upcoming AIIMS facility, although an announcement from the Centre for the same is still pending.

Despite calls from local representatives to consider Kasaragod (for the benefit of victims of the endosulfan disaster) and central Travancore, the state government has confirmed that if the Central Government approves the AIIMS project, it will be situated in Kozhikode. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has shown strong support for the same. As a result, an order was issued to transfer the land from the Revenue Department to the Directorate of Medical Education.

The land, which consists of 39.33 hectares in Kinalur and 22 hectares in Kanthalad villages, is under the State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). The government plans to transfer this land, valued at Rs 20.32 crore, free of cost, to the Medical Education Directorate. It is noted that part of the Kinalur land includes two hectares leased to the Usha School of Athletics.

The new guidelines for the land use stipulate that it must be used solely for the AIIMS project. Any tree cutting on the land also requires permission from revenue authorities, and for every tree cut, three new saplings must be planted and maintained.