Chennai: The Ministry of Health has floated tenders to identify a suitable consultant for the proposed construction of All India Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Madurai, Tamil Nadu Health and Medical Education Minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday.

After submitting a memorandum to Union Minister of Health Mansukh L Mandaviya in New Delhi, Subramanian said the project outlay for AIIMS in Madurai has escalated to Rs 1,900 crore now from the earlier projected Rs 1,400 crore.

"As the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the building was conducted in 2019, a request has been made to the Union Minister to expedite the project. He told that the project cost which was Rs 1,400 crore at the time of foundation stone laying ceremony has increased to Rs 1,900 crore now," Subramanian quoting Mandaviya told reporters in New Delhi.

"He (Mandaviya) told me that a consultant has to be appointed for the project. Tenders have been floated and it is expected to be completed by next week," Subramanian said.

The state minister had submitted a host of requests in his memorandum to Mandaviya including expediting construction and establishment of AIIMS in Madurai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of AIIMS at Thoppur near Madurai in January 2019 under the previous AIADMK rule.

Besides AIIMS in Madurai, Subramanian in his memorandum to Mandaviya had requested the establishment of new government medical colleges in six districts.

He also requested to allow the affected students of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to pursue their studies in medical colleges in India among others.

The minister requested the Centre to supply additional vaccines against COVID-19 to the state and also urged the release of funds under the 15th Finance Commission Grants for Health for financial year 2022-23.

Accompanied by his department secretary P Senthil Kumar and other officials, Subramanian also sought the Union minister's intervention for sanctioning of 50 primary health centres in the state.