Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his MLA brother-in-law N Balakrishna laid foundation stone and performed bhoomi pooja for the construction of Basavatarakam Indo-American cancer hospital and research institute at Tulluru village on February 14.

The Chief Minister, his wife N Bhuvaneswari, Balakrishna who is also the Managing trustee of the hospital, and his wife N Vasundara performed pooja at the site on the occasion. The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) allocated 15 acres of land for the hospital at Tulluru. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said there is a need to increase awareness on cancer among people.

He said that study should be carried on the preventive measures to be taken to check the cancer and asked the management of the cancer hospital to complete the construction in next one-and-half years. Mr Naidu announced that 14 major medical colleges and 14 hospitals are coming up in Amaravati. In the coming days, Amaravati would become a medical hub, he predicted.

He said that the actor-turned politician N Balakrishna had launched the Basavatarakam cancer hospital in Hyderabad which is providing cancer treatment to thousands of people. Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, Ministers N Lokesh, Nakka Ananda Babu, P Pulla Rao, Farooq, MP K Narayana, eminent cancer specialist Sr.Dattatreyudu, Collector Kona Seshidar and CRDA Commissioner Ch. Sridhar were present on the occasion.