Ready 200-bed Ulhasnagar hospital awaits opening

The new hospital will have gynaecology and paediatrics departments. Pic/Navneet Barhate

Due to the unavailability of the chief minister, the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) has failed to inaugurate its first hospital, an ex-corporator has alleged. Savita Torane-Ragade has written to the UMC chief, asking him to open the 200-bed, three-storey hospital or be prepared to face an agitation.

UMC officials, however, refuted the claim, saying the process to fill posts was ongoing and the hospital would be functional in a month or two. Due to the non-availability of civic-run medical facilities, Ulhasnagar citizens have been forced to receive treatment at private facilities.

The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation Hospital is located on the Kalyan-Murbad Road near Mharalgaon. It was built by a developer and handed over to the civic body a few years ago under transferable development rights (TDR), a land-development technique. The hospital was used during the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic but has been lying vacant for about a year.

"The UMC hasn't even started the process to recruit medical staff. It is trying to get the dates of the chief minister to inaugurate the hospital first. Therefore, it's still locked," alleged Torane-Ragade. "The UMC didn't have its own hospital but when they finally got one, they are not keen on opening it as soon as possible, which will benefit poor citizens across the city," she added.

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Shivaji Ragde, spokesperson, Nationalist Congress Party, Ulhasnagar, said, "The newly constructed building can enhance the medical facilities of the city but as the UMC trying to invite the chief minister, no date has been announced for the hospital's inauguration."

Dr Karuna Juikar, additional municipal commissioner, said, "The local MP has agreed to remain present during the inauguration so the allegations of waiting for the CM are untrue. The process to fill the posts is still on and the manpower will also be shifted to the hospital. It will take some time, but we are confident about inaugurating it in a month or two." The new hospital will have gynaecology and paediatrics departments.