Tender expired, but BMC seeks nod for Sion hospital revamp proposal

MUMBAI: The BMC will place a Rs 671-crore proposal to renovate Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, popularly known as Sion hospital, before the standing committee on Monday,, a month after the tender period expired. The Opposition parties protested, saying the tender is invalid. The proposal to make Sion hospital a 1,900-bed hospital was circulated among the panel members on Sunday, and the meeting was scheduled on Monday.But an official said the meeting may be postponed.
In February, the BMC had invited e-tender for the proposal, which includes a 20-storey medical college building, a 25-storey hostel, a 19-floor hospital, staff quarters and a three-storey building. The tender was closed in March, with Ahluwalia Contracts emerging as lowest bidder with Rs 543 crore, without taxes and other expenses. The BMC negotiated and brought the amount down to Rs 523 crore. But no decision was taken thereafter and the tender period expired on August 12. On September 7, the BMC chief formed a panel, headed by an additional municipal commissioner (AMC), to bring the amount down to Rs 476 crore.
Monday’s meeting was to be among the last before the poll code of conduct kicks in. The BMC has been tabling many proposals at the last minute—last week, the panel cleared over 200 proposals worth more than Rs 1,000 crore without discussion. Opposition leader and Congress corporator Ravi Raja said, “The BMC is bringing invalid tender proposals before the panel. The proposal states that after getting nod, a three-member panel, headed by an AMC, will renegotiate with the contractor. The AMC in-charge of hospitals is not on the panel, but another AMC will negotiate. These developments indicate corruption.” SP corporator Rais Shaikh said the redevelopment work should start soon, but refused further comment. BJP corporator Prabhakar Shinde said sometimes the BMC extends a tender expiry date, which it informs in the meeting directly.