The Centre informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday that construction of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Thoppur in Madurai will commence after approval from the Union Cabinet.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare submitted that the proposal for the establishment would first be considered by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) after involving the stakeholders, including NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance.

On December 4, the EFC held a meeting and the appraisal/approval was awaited. After that , the proposal would be submitted for the Union Cabinet’s approval, following which a notification would be issued, the report said. The report further added that the period for the establishment of the AIIMS would be 45 months from the date of approval.

A Division Bench of Justices K.K. Sasidharan and P.D. Audikesavalu took cognisance of Centre’s submission and disposed of the plea filed by K.K. Ramesh from Madurai who sought a direction for the Centre to expedite the construction of AIIMS in Madurai so as to benefit the people of the State.