MLA calls for scrapping of BMC’s ₹150 cr tunnel laundry project in Mulund

A call to cancel the BMC’s ₹150 crore tunnel laundry project, slated for a prime plot on LBS Marg in Mulund, was made in the legislative assembly on Tuesday. MLA Mihir Kotecha raised concerns, asserting that Mulund residents would oppose the project.

Published on: Mar 26, 2025, 10:18:10 IST

By Linah Baliga

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MUMBAI: A call to cancel the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC’s) ₹150 crore tunnel laundry project, slated for a prime plot on LBS Marg in Mulund, was made in the legislative assembly on Tuesday. MLA Mihir Kotecha raised concerns, asserting that Mulund residents would oppose the project due to its potential negative impact on their well-being as it would be used to wash garments from BMC hospitals, including clothes worn by patients and staff, as well as bed linens.

MLA calls for scrapping of BMC’s ₹150 cr tunnel laundry project in Mulund

The MLA argued that this would negatively affect the environment and pollute the air in an area choked with high-rises. He categorically stated, “We, the residents of Mulund, will not allow this to happen. Therefore, I demand the cancellation of this tunnel laundry project.”

The tunnel laundry was originally proposed by BMC in 2022 at Sewri TB Hospital. However, the ₹160 crore project was scrapped after allegations of cost inflation, bid manipulation, and cartelisation surfaced.

Concerns were raised about the project tenders, and Kotecha, along with BJP MLA Ameet Satam, accused the BMC of rigging the bids and selecting a Borivali-based departmental store with no experience in large-scale laundry operations to handle the project. The BMC had invited tenders for the establishment and operation of a tunnel laundry capable of washing 40,000 garments, including those from municipal hospitals across Mumbai.

Currently, the BMC uses a laundry facility in Bhoiwada to process around 16,000 garments daily. While a budgetary provision has been made this year for the tunnel laundry project, the BMC is yet to invite tenders. Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner (projects), was unavailable for comment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Raghunath Baliga
Leena Raghunath Baliga (byline: Linah Baliga) is Associate Editor with nearly two decades of experience in journalism,and has earlier worked with TOI, DNA and Mumbai Mirror specialising in civic affairs, urban governance and political reporting. Based in Mumbai, she has looked into the functioning of civic administration, public policy and governance, with a particular focus on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), urban infrastructure, housing, redevelopment and city planning. Over the years, she has consistently reported on issues that directly impact citizens, including municipal administration, public health, BEST, environmental concerns, major infrastructure projects and state government policies affecting urban development. Her reporting combines on-ground reporting, making complex civic and governance issues accessible to readers while ensuring accountability in civic administration. She has extensively covered political developments that shape urban policy. Her work has also focused on redevelopment policies, affordable housing and the implementation of major infrastructure projects across Mumbai.She continues to chronicle the evolving and changing landscape of Asia's richest municipal corporation. When she isn't chasing stories or poring over civic documents, she enjoys dabbling in art and unwinding with music. An avid rock 'n' roll enthusiast, she has an anachronistic taste in music, with a playlist that happily skips across decades, filled with timeless classics.Read More

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