Borivali’s Bhagwati Hospital still awaits opening despite BMC assurance

Union Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier assured that the hospital would be managed by the BMC. Yet, residents say there has been little visible progress on the ground

MUMBAI: The 490-bed Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali, built to serve the city’s western suburbs, remains non-operational despite repeated assurances from the BMC and political representatives.

Borivali’s Bhagwati Hospital still awaits opening despite BMC assurance

The hospital, delayed for years due to administrative and political hurdles, was slated to open in May. However, after plans to run it under a public-private partnership model were scrapped following strong opposition from citizens and hospital unions, its inauguration has been further pushed.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier assured that the hospital would be managed by the BMC. Yet, residents say there has been little visible progress on the ground.

“There are frequent accidents here, but even for minor injuries or fever, we have to travel to Shatabdi or Savitribai Phule Hospital, which are far away and overcrowded,” said a Borivali West resident. “The treatment is basic and the waiting time is long. We’ve waited years for Bhagwati to open, but if it’s privatised again, it won’t help us.”

A senior BMC official said the hospital was nearly complete and expected to open in December. “It will not operate under a PPP model and will be open to the public,” he said.