Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Wednesday inaugurated new amenities built at a cost of Rs 35.46 crore at an 837-bed state-run hospital for children here, billed as the biggest in South Asia.

The amenities include a sophisticated cardiac operation theatre and Intensive Care Unit, set up at a cost of Rs 25 crore at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children.

An amphitheatre set up at a cost of Rs 40 lakh with a seating capacity of 250 was also inaugurated. The facility will entertain children who visit the hospital for treatment with short films and cartoon content.

Palaniswami, along with Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, Local Administration Minister S P Velumani and Agriculture Minister R Doraikannu visited an amma canteen in the premises, ate idly and pongal and paid for it.

The low-cost Amma 'unavagam' (canteens) were a pet project of former Chief Minister, the late Jayalalithaa. The canteens were introduced for the urban poor and migrant labourers to provide food at highly subsidised rates.

The ICHHC, attached to the Madras Medical College, is an 837 bedded hospital and is the biggest children's hospital in South Asia, according to the government.

The hospital which is celebrating its golden jubilee year sees about 12,000 outpatients in the cardiology department alone. Top government officials, including Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, participated in the event.