Guntur Chosen for National Yoga and Naturopathy Research Institute

In a significant boost to Ayurveda, Yoga and holistic healthcare research, the Centre has approved the establishment of a Rs 100-crore Central Research Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy (CRIYN) near Guntur, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Tuesday.

The institute will be set up on 15.03 acres at Nadimpalem in Prathipadu mandal after an expert team from the Union Ministry of AYUSH found the proposed site suitable during a recent inspection. The project is expected to become operational by 2028, creating a major centre for research, training and patient care in the region.

According to Yadav, the Andhra Pradesh government will complete essential infrastructure, including land development, roads, drainage and other civic works, within the next three months before formally handing over the site to the Centre for construction.

The institute will function under the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH. It is expected to emerge as one of India's leading institutions dedicated to scientific research on yoga and naturopathy while promoting evidence-based healthcare practices.

Officials said the campus will house a 100-bed yoga and naturopathy hospital, offering integrated treatment for lifestyle disorders and chronic illnesses alongside research and academic activities. It will also feature advanced laboratories, specialised treatment units, training facilities and other supporting infrastructure to strengthen education and innovation in traditional wellness systems.

During the site inspection, the Central team recommended several infrastructure measures, including the construction of a covered cement drainage canal along the boundary, a 40-foot-wide access road connecting the campus to National Highway-16, levelling of low-lying land and development of a nearby bus stop to improve accessibility.

Yadav noted that similar institutes are already operational in Jhajjar (Haryana), Nagamangala (Karnataka) and Dibrugarh (Assam), while new centres are under construction in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Jatni (Odisha), reflecting the Centre's continued emphasis on expanding research in traditional medicine nationwide.