Speaking at a Meet-the-Press programme organised here on Sunday, Dr. Moopen said that the first phase of the DM Medcity planned in Kochi would be completed by 2012 at a cost of Rs. 500 crore. The 500-bed hospital would come up in 35 acres of land in Cheranelloor along with a hotel, medical convention centre and residential apartments in the first phase. This is likely to provide employment to about 5,000 people, he said. The Medcity is being planned by a top U.S. architect and the construction work is to start at the end of the year. Land acquisition, which is a major hurdle in the State, is over, he said.

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