AIG Hospitals has laid the foundation stone for a new greenfield multispeciality hospital in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with the facility expected to become operational by October 2028.

The foundation stone was laid by Nara Lokesh, Minister for Human Resource Development, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications and Real Time Governance, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

The ceremony was attended by Ayyannapatrudu Chintakayala, Speaker, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Sri Bharat Muthukumilli, Member of Parliament, Visakhapatnam; and Sri Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Bheemili.

The project will be developed in two phases and will ultimately comprise a 1,000-bed hospital campus. Phase 1 will include Towers A and B with 650 beds and is scheduled to be operational by October 2028. Phase 2 will add another 350 beds through Tower C over the subsequent two to three years.

Beyond clinical infrastructure, the campus will include a Nursing College, paramedic training centre, research laboratory, AI centre and a 500-seat academic auditorium, creating an integrated healthcare, education and research ecosystem.

Speaking at the foundation ceremony, Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, said the institution's experience over more than three decades has reinforced the importance of combining clinical excellence with academics and research. 

“Clinical excellence can only thrive when it is complemented by continuous academic activities and backed by research. That is why the research laboratory and the academic block are not additions to this project; they are part of its structure from the beginning,” he said.

The hospital will offer more than 50 medical and surgical specialities, supported by modular operating rooms, advanced cath labs, endoscopy suites, 150 critical care beds and a 50-bed emergency department. The outpatient block is designed to handle approximately 5,000 consultations a day. 

A dedicated 120-bed Mother and Child block will include a 15-bed neonatal intensive care unit, birthing suites and paediatric services.

Dr. Reddy said the project aligns with the state's Swarnandhra Vision 2047, with the aim of developing a healthcare facility that is equitable, accessible and affordable.

The campus will also provide hostel accommodation for nursing staff, accommodation for visiting faculty and low-cost accommodation for patients' families.

At full capacity, the hospital is expected to employ approximately 9,000 people and have 1,000 doctors on its rolls.

According to Sri PVS Raju, Vice-Chairman, AIG Hospitals, the project is expected to generate employment across clinical, technical, administrative and support functions. He highlighted the nursing college and paramedic training centre as longer-term contributors to developing a skilled healthcare workforce in the region. 

Dr. Rakesh Kalapala, Director, AIG Hospitals Visakhapatnam, said the facility would be designed as a technology-enabled hospital from the outset, with artificial intelligence integrated into clinical workflows, imaging, diagnostics and hospital operations.