The Congress government has announced plans to repurpose the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (TIMS) in Gachibowli, a hospital that served thousands of patients during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic. The building is slated for conversion into a sports village, and orders have been issued to transfer its premises to the Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Cultural Department.
Under the new directives, medical authorities are expected to hand over TIMS to the Sports Authority of Telangana (SAT), where it will be used to host training camps for athletes competing at national and international levels. During the COVID-19 crisis, the previous BRS government transformed the existing sports village in Gachibowli into a medical facility, outfitted with 1,261 ICU beds and state-of-the-art medical equipment.
The hospital played a crucial role, offering life-saving care to thousands daily. With the decline in COVID-19 cases, plans were in place to further modernize the hospital, with former CM KCR laying foundation stones in April 2024 for additional TIMS facilities in Sanath Nagar, Bolarum, and Alwal.
This decision to revert TIMS back into a sports facility has sparked considerable public outcry. Many are questioning the need for such a change, especially since TIMS has more doctors on staff than both Gandhi and Osmania hospitals, making it a critical healthcare hub.
On social media platforms like X and Facebook, netizens are expressing anger, suggesting that the Revanth government’s move is motivated by a desire to erase former CM KCR’s achievements in healthcare.