The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s plan to hand over the operation and management of six civic hospitals to private operators for 30 years has triggered opposition from Mumbai councillors, who have demanded cancellation of the tenders and questioned safeguards for patients from economically weaker sections.
The BMC invited bids on Friday from “experienced and qualified” contractors under its healthcare collaboration model. The tender process covers six multispecialty healthcare facilities, with bids due by November 2, 2026. The proposed arrangement could also be extended by another 15 years, according to the tender details reported by Mid-Day.
The hospitals and facilities identified in the proposal include sites at Dahisar West, Chandivali, Mogra in Andheri, Khar Maternity Home, Mankhurd-Mandala and Vikhroli Parksite. Municipal Councillor and BMC Health Committee Chairman Harish Bhandirge, former mayor and BMC House Leader of Opposition Kishori Pednekar, and Municipal Councillor Ashraf Azmi have opposed the proposal.
Azmi demanded the immediate cancellation of the tenders, alleging that the civic body was giving private operators access to six prime plots without adequate protection for patients who depend on low-cost municipal healthcare. He claimed that the land involved was worth approximately Rs 600 crore and would be made available to private operators for 30 years under the PPP arrangement.
“The BMC is giving six prime plots Dahisar West CTS 67512 Chandivali Mogra in Andheri Khar Maternity Home Mankhurd Mandala and Vikhroli Parksite worth Rs 600 crore free for 30 years to private operators in the name of PPP,” Azmi alleged, according to Mid-Day.
Bhandirge said the civic administration had introduced the proposal without discussing it with elected representatives. “This proposal was floated without the administration discussing it with us. We oppose it and the act of the administration doing this without keeping us informed. Officials are blaming it on each other now. We will demand their detailed response on Monday,” he said.
Pednekar questioned the need to outsource the management of municipal healthcare facilities, pointing to the BMC’s large budget. “What is this rampant trend of privatisation in the BMC? It is one of the richest civic bodies with such a large budget. It doesn’t make any sense when they try to outsource even basic municipal facilities like healthcare,” she said.
Azmi also alleged that the proposal could violate Section 61(gg) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. He warned that private management could increase the financial burden on patients and affect services currently offered at nominal or no cost. He cited the existing OPD charge of Rs 10 and free delivery services, and alleged that future charges could rise to Rs 1,500 for an OPD visit and Rs 60,000 for a delivery. He also claimed that free beds for families below the poverty line could be affected.
The facilities named in the proposal serve areas including Mankhurd, Chandivali, Dahisar and Khar, where access to affordable municipal healthcare is a central concern raised by the opposing councillors. The dispute therefore covers both the proposed management model and the conditions that would govern patient charges, free or subsidised beds, and access to services.
Mid-Day contacted Additional Municipal Commissioner in charge of health Prajakta Lavangare and Executive Health Officer Santosh Gaikwad for the civic administration’s response late on Friday. No response had been received by press time. The next stated step is the demand for a detailed response from the civic administration on Monday, while the tender deadline remains November 2, 2026.
