The cabinet committee of economic affairs also approved Rs 184 crore (Rs 1.84 billion) for constructing a new super-speciality block and upgrading existing facilities at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Pondicherry during the period 2002-07.
After the meeting, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the existing drug research institute is located at a palace, which was not suited for research work. So, the government has decided to come up with a new set-up at Sitapur Road in Lucknow. The drug research institute is expected to be completed in four years, he said.
It will engage in drug discovery, research and development of new processes, and provide service in regulatory pharmacology, toxicilogy, pharmacokinetics and metabolic studies to the pharmaceuticals industry.
On the additional capacity at JIPMER, Chidambaram said CCEA approved a new 360-bed super-speciality block along with augmenting its existing super-speciality facilities and setting up of a new trauma care centre.
Out of the total of Rs 183.91 crore (Rs 1.83 billion) provided for JIPMER, the super-speciality block and upgradation of facilities, along with setting up of the new trauma care centre, will require an investment of Rs 157.84 crore (Rs 1.57 billion) during the 10th Plan, while Rs 26.07 crore (Rs 260.7 million) may spill over to the 11th Plan.
CCEA also approved the proposal for getting the work at JIPMER executed on a turnkey basis through an agency selected after competitive bidding.