Indian Express 10.11.2010
Now, a water pipeline delays BMC’s trauma centre project
Pritha Chatterjee Tags : BMC, trauma centre project Posted: Wed Nov 10 2010, 06:04 hrs
Mumbai: The BMC’s ambitious 265-bedded trauma centre project in Ajgaonkar, Jogeshwari, has been consistently delayed owing to a variety of reasons. The latest hurdle, according to sources in the BMC’s city engineering department, was a 1200-mm water pipeline that was found while digging the ground for constructing the basement of the centre. The officials said the project had been further delayed since the design of the structure had to be changed owing to this.“The pipeline was found after digging a few feet. Representatives from our department had a war of words with the health department. The plot should have been properly scrutinised before passing an order for a 14-storey structure,” a senior engineer said. “There was no other solution. We had to shift the foundation by around six metres,” he said.
According to him, the deadline set for two years from August 2009, has been delayed by at least eight months owing to changes in the design. He said construction activities had to be postponed, as the work order for the project came just before the onset of the monsoon.
“Work was delayed by almost four months, as we had to constantly reschedule deadlines because of the rains,” an engineer said. As per the project’s financial records, over Rs 40 crore has already been sanctioned. The total estimated budget for the project is Rs. 97,32 18,509. Now, engineers say several problems has arisen while selecting a plot for the hospital.
“Only one acre land has been allocated for the project. It is so close to the highway. Hence, construction activities can only be carried out at nights,” he said. The project is also “dangerously” close to an SRA building, he said. According to the official, after the changes in design, construction activities have been more swift. “Work on the second floor of the building should have been started by now. So far, only the ground floor and basement have been completed. But now we are progressing at a steady pace,”said the engineer.
Even though a schedule was prepared formally in 2008, tenders were invited only in April 2009. Sources said the standing committee had given its approval for the project in 2006. “The project has seen a delay up to three years. Now, new problems are emerging,” said a senior civic official. “ Despite these, we aim to meet the original deadline. The project has been expanded phenomenally from the original plan,” said medical superintendent of peripheral hospitals.
Corporators, however, say the original deadline for the project—October 2011— seems to be too ambitious . “We will also need more funds. The trauma centre has now been expanded to house other facilities like maternity and pediatric wings,”said health committee chairman Ashvini Mate.
