The Punjab Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, decided September 20 to transfer piece of land belonging to the state government to the Centre for the AIIMS project at Bathinda.

According to an official statement, the cabinet has decided to transfer four acres, one kanal, 13 marla of land, which stands in the name of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana and Department of Sports, Punjab, to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for 175.1 acre of land belonging to Punjab Agriculture University at village Jodhpur Romana, Bathinda that was earlier transferred to the ministry free of cost. With this decision, the requirement of entire land for building the AIIMS at Bathinda now stands completely fulfilled, said the spokesperson.

The Bathinda AIIMS would be a 750-bed premier medical institute with 10 specialty departments and 11 super-specialty departments. The chief minister reiterated his government's commitment to ensure early operationalization of AIIMS Bathinda, the progress of which was being monitored on regular basis, added the spokesperson.