No BMC clearance for its own hospital leaves medics losing out thousands in rent

The boys’ hostel building at Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr RN Cooper hospital in Vile Parle. Pic/Sameer Markande

Students of Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Vile Parle are shelling out thousands of rupees as rent every month as the hostel buildings remain incomplete and without occupancy certificate. Work on the boys' hostel was completed, but it is yet to get a nod from the fire brigade while work is still underway for the girls' hostel. Former health minister Dr Dipak Sawant has been following up on the matter and met with the civic chief and chief minister last week.

Work on both the hostels started four years ago. "The boys' hostel building has 10 floors and the work is complete. However, the building is yet to get a fire NOC from the fire brigade. It also does not have permission to operate lifts. The authority has to arrange furniture and start mess service too," Dr Sawant said, adding, "Work on both the buildings started four years ago, but some minor works are still remaining at the girls' hostel."

A hostel building at HBT Medical College and Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Vile Parle. Pic/Sameer Markande

The former minister said, "As the hostel is not ready, the students are being forced to pay thousands of rupees for rent and food every month. Most of the students are from villages and rural areas and cannot afford these high expenses." "I met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday and civic chief I S Chahal on Thursday. Chahal has assured that the hostel will start soon," he added. Sources from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation confirmed that work on the boys' hostel was completed and that the building is awaiting a fire safety certificate. Chahal said that the hostel would start in the next three weeks.

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The medical college started in 2015 while the construction of the hostel buildings started in 2018. The hostels were set to be completed by March this year, said sources. A team of Mumbai Fire Brigade had visited the building in the second week of December. Sources said that the fire brigade stated that there was a need for more fire fighting systems such as smoke detectors. Once the systems are put in place, the hospital administration can apply for an Occupancy Certificate. Dean Dr Shailesh Mohite did not respond to calls. More than 100 students are affected by this delay.

A student's parents, farmers by profession, told mid-day, "My son needs at least Rs 35,000 each month to live in Mumbai. The room rent is around Rs 20,000 while food and other expenses come up to Rs 15,000. We cannot afford the cost of living in an area like Vile Parle." Some of the parents had recently met the college administration about the hostel, but the officials didn't respond as to when the hostels would open.

Mar
Month when the buildings were supposed be ready

10
No of floors of the building that houses boys' hostel