MADURAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the 750-bed All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai which is To be built at a budget  of Rs 1,264 crore. PM also inaugurated super-speciality blocks at medical colleges in Rajaji, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli.

The proposed 750-bed modern AIIMS will be the first such facility in Tamil Nadu. on its completion, is also projected to offer 100 MBBS seats. It is expected to go on stream in 2022. Apart from AIIMS PM also inaugurated super-speciality blocks at medical colleges in Rajaji, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli. These blocs would have high-tech diagnostic equipment and facilities including Cath lab. 

Addresing to the gathering,PM  said that his government's priority is to make health care is affordable. He said The NDA government is giving great priority to the health sector so that everyone is healthy and the health care is affordable. Today I am happy to inaugurate the super speciality hospitals in Madurai, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli. PM Modi also dedicated 12 passport 'seva kendras' at the event.

The PM arrived in the city on Sunday amid protests by Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK). Ahead of his arrival, MDMK chief Vaiko staged a black flag demonstration against the PM alleging that he had betrayed the interests of state. Vaiko along with other protesters was detained.