Mumbai: Rs 500 crore Sion hospital revamp plan, Opposition knives out over sole bid

MUMBAI: Redevelopment of the civic-run Sion Hospital is set to kick off with the BMC moving a Rs 513 crore proposal for phase 1 of development of a nursing college and residential quarters for doctors, nurses, other staff and hostel for undergraduate students. It involves construction of 14 lakh sq feet (approximately 32 acres).
The proposal is part of 716 items on the standing committee agenda awaiting approval.The committee meeting scheduled for Monday has been put off to Thursday.
The opposition is all ready to question the BMC on the proposal that has been delayed by 18 months as the administration sought to reduce the bid cost. "In the first instance, the administration received three bids of which one was non-responsive. The proposal expected to be detailed gives no reason why the bid was non-responsive. The lowest bid was 12% above estimated cost which BMC negotiated and brought down to 8.99%. However, for some inexplicable reason the bid was cancelled, and a second bid invited. Since no bids were received, this was extended and finally BMC got a single bid which is now 8.88% above the estimated cost. There is a delay, and the administration must explain why it did not negotiate further in the first instance and accepting a single bid is against Central Vigilance Commission norms," said BJP's Bhalchandra Shirsat. The single bid has been received from M/s Ahluwalia Contract (India) Ltd.
The BMC has proposed to redevelop the entire hospital complex spread over two plots. In the first phase, the proposal is to build a 20-storey nursing college behind the medical college. It will have quarters for nurses and resident medical officers. Across the road, the hospital owns another plot that comprises quarters for doctors and other employees and a paraplegic foundation. The proposal is to build a hostel for undergraduate students, a transit accommodation for doctors and employees and the paraplegic foundation and then build permanent quarters which will comprise 2-BHK apartments.
Sources said the first phase will be completed in three years. Thereafter, quarters that form part of the main complex will be razed and a new 1,900-bed single wing hospital will be built. Construction of the hospital building will be taken up in three phases so as not to disturb the running of the hospital that will continue operations all through.
"The medical college building will be redeveloped in the last phase which will happen after 10-15 years as it is in relatively good condition," said a source.