CM Devendra Fadnavis gives nod for BMC-run nursing college in Bandra
In the midst of a shortage of nurses in the city, CM Devendra Fadnavis has granted an in-principle approval for a new BMC-run nursing college and hostel near Bhabha Hospital in Bandra. He issued directives to BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani to initiate action on the proposal submitted by BJP’s Ashish Shelar, Mumbai suburban’s guardian minister. Officials said the college will come up on a 2,236sqm plot on RK Patkar Marg and will accommodate 100 students. The space remaining after the college and the hostel’s construction will be used as quarters for Bhabha Hospital staffers.
As per officials, the existing ground-plus-two structure on the plot is currently being demolished. The new project is expected to cost around Rs 100 crore.
In his proposal to Fadnavis, Shelar pointed out that the land is reserved for municipal facilities and hospital. “[The nursing college] will offer much-needed infrastructure for the expanded Bhabha Hospital, which recently added a new 11-storey tower,” he said, adding that it would address the city’s need for trained medical personnel. He said the provision of dedicated staff quarters will significantly improve the living conditions of hospital personnel, leading to better morale and services.
Last year, Comptroller and Auditor General of India had found crippling shortages in Maharashtra’s public health system in terms of both trained medical professionals and infrastructure. Its report, tabled in the assembly, said a third of the posts on average was vacant in public health and medical education departments.
News Edit KV Raman
