Navi Mumbai hospital project brings Mhatre-Naik rivalry to the fore again in BJP

Navi Mumbai: Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre of the BJP has publicly criticised her party colleague, forest minister and Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik, for undermining the proposal for a super-specialty hospital and medical college on a 31,000-sq m plot in Sector 15A, Belapur. Part of the site falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and has been used as a cricket ground by locals for long.Mhatre championed the plan for a modern facility to be developed by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The NMMC purchased the land from CIDCO for Rs 60 crore a few years ago, and the project was estimated to cost Rs 800 crore. Although tenders were issued, a public interest litigation (PIL) was pending in the high court due to the CRZ-related issue.
Mhatre claimed Naik had opposed the project since its inception because it lay in her constituency rather than his Airoli constituency. After the NMMC general body voted by a majority in the civic house to preserve the Sector 15A ground for the more than 40 cricket players who have used it for years and recommended moving the project to another site, she accused Naik of indulging in petty politics.The cricket enthusiasts also staged a protest in front of NMMC headquarters early this week while the house proceedings were underway.Mayor Sujata Patil said the proposal be examined by the municipal health committee and then returned to the general body for final clearance. Independent corporator Bharat Bhoir introduced the motion seeking relocation or cancellation of the Belapur hospital plan, and proposed Nevle in the newly added 14-village area as a more centrally located alternative.Several corporators said they supported the concept of a super-specialty hospital but opposed building it on an established playground. Other locations, including Kille Gaothan, were suggested. Members also urged the administration to fully operationalise existing municipal hospitals in Vashi, Nerul, Belapur and Airoli before launching an expensive new project.BJP corporator Nishant Bhagat criticised CIDCO for selling land that villagers developed into playgrounds and alleged the 2017 draft development plan failed to reserve space for key civic amenities. MNS corporator Abhijit Desai argued that expanding current hospitals would be preferable to spending crores on new infrastructure.BJP members Ganesh Sakpal and Saluja Sutar pointed to gaps in infrastructure and staffing, and called for more doctors, nurses and support staff. Other corporators raised wider civic issues, including the absence of a playground in Seawoods, the need for night OPD services, and delays in approving and inaugurating health centres in Airoli and Koparkhairane.The house also decided to formally ask Manda Mhatre to help enable the project's relocation. Deputy mayor Dashrath Bhagat said any final decision should follow a detailed assessment of costs, budget allocation, staffing and operational requirements.Shiv Sena opposition leader Vijay Chougule questioned why BJP leaders reconsidered relocation after the project was finalised. Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Vishal Sasane again highlighted Seawoods' lack of a playground and recommended starting night OPD services at civic health centres.BJP member Suraj Patil backed Mhatre, cited her earlier letter to CIDCO requesting that the Belapur ground be kept solely for sports, and said the house would send her a formal request to assist in shifting the hospital project.