MADURAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday laid the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Thoppur near here at a cost of Rs 1,264 crore, the first such facility in Tamil Nadu.He also unveiled super speciality blocks at state-run medical colleges in Madurai, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli through video conference facility.These blocks would have high-tech diagnostic equipment and facilities including Cath lab.The proposed 750-bed modern AIIMS, on its completion, will also offer 100 MBBS seats.On the occasion, Modi also dedicated 12 passport seva kendras.Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami thanked the Prime Minister for providing the AIIMS facility to Tamil Nadu and urged upon the Centre to set up a medical college at the backward Ramanathapuram district.Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam said AIIMS here would greatly benefit the people of southern backward districts of Tamil Nadu adding all necessary infrastructure will be developed in the region.The Madurai AIIMS was given union cabinet approval in December, 2018.Palaniswami had assured the state's full support to facilitate early commencement and completion of the project for realising late chief minister J Jayalalithaa 's dream.When the Centre announced in its 2014-15 budget that new AIIMS would be set up in various parts of the country, Jayalalithaa had requested one such facility for Tamil Nadu.Following her plea, the Centre announced in the 2015-16 budget that an AIIMS would be set up in the state.After a prolonged process, the authorities zeroed in on the Thoppur near here for locating the AIIMS.