BMC LOOKS FOR SPACE TO BUILD CHINA-LIKE HOSP
MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is scouting for a land parcel to build a dedicated hospital in modular style with 500-1,000 beds to treat Covid-19 patients in 50-60 days, similar to China where such a 1,000-bed structure was built in 10 days. The structure, which won’t be RCC, can hold up in the monsoon, storm or earthquake.
The BMC currently has more than 500 beds that can be used as quarantine facility, however, the aim is to increase the capacity to 2,000 beds, using the space of private hospitals, hotels, government hostels, and peripheral civic hospitals. The civic body is looking at increasing the number of beds to handle a sudden spike in cases and as a long-term infrastructure to tackle the disease.
P Velrasu, additional municipal commissioner, BMC, said, “We are in the process of identifying a land parcel where a new hospital can be created for coronavirus patients. The hospital will be civic-run, but the resources will be pooled in by private entities, who can help via corporate social responsibility (CSR).”
Velrasu added, “This hospital will be multi-storey and will be modular structure. The plan is for 1,000 beds, but the situation is still evolving. We are trying to use a land parcel that is marked for hospital in the Development Plan 2034. It will also depend on how the situation goes further.”
Currently, Kasturba Hospital, with 100 beds, is the hub for coronavirus testing in the city. Later, the Seven Hills Hospital – which was dysfunctional – was converted into a 350-bedded quarantine facility. Further, the Reliance Foundation recently contributed towards setting up a 100bed quarantine facility in Seven Hills Hospital.
MUMBAI: From using toothpicks to avoid touching buttons in the lift to getting one resident to buy essentials for multiple families, Hiranandani Heritage, a residential complex in Kandivli with 436 flats across five buildings, has taken different steps to ensure social distancing amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The idea is to have fewer people exposed and at risk once they step out of the colony,” said Sagar Vira, resident. “We ask our friends and close neighbours about the requirements on social media groups. One person volunteers on a rotational basis. Also, each resident comes and collects their items from the main entrance.”
The society has barred entry of vendors, relatives, friends and house help, ensuring complete lockdown of the gym and swimming pool facilities. All security staff have been given hand sanitisers and masks and all benches from the garden area have been removed to discourage people from gathering, said another resident. “Committee members are regularly communicating with the residents to ensure there is no confusion. Beyond this if someone is still facing issues, their case is addressed by the taskforce,” said a committee member requesting anonymity.
Apart from providing food to the security staff, arrangements for their stay have been made within the society itself, said Vira. “Our society members have also begun arranging food for daily wage labourers and distribution is being done through proper channels, with precautionary measures,” he said.