Balasore, Jan. 17: A satellite unit of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is likely to be set up here in the near future.

A five-member team, headed by the director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, Ashok Mahapatra, paid a visit to the district for this yesterday. Besides looking at prospective sites, the team members also held talks with the district administration.

A 25-acre plot in Balia, which is currently owned by the state agriculture department, was selected for the purpose. Additional district magistrate Akshay Mohanty said: “The central government has proposed to establish a satellite unit of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, in Balasore. While the land would be provided by the state government, the funds will come from the Centre,” he said.

Once the land is transferred, the proposed unit would be set up in two or three in years.

The proposed AIIMS satellite unit has ignited hopes for the district, which has been demanding a government medical college and hospital for years.

An action committee has been putting pressure both on the state government and the Centre through demonstrations, strikes and signature campaigns. “If Balasore has a satellite unit of AIIMS, it is welcome. But our demand for a government medical college and hospital stands,” said Laxmidhar Behera, a senior member of the action committee for the medical college and hospital.

The state government has identified a 20-acre plot for the establishment of a medical college and hospital in Srikrushnapur. It has also identified a three-acre patch in Ganeswarpur for setting up a private eye hospital and a 20-acre plot in Baunsamuhan for the Sergarh National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research.