For the residents of Seawoods, Sector 48-A, the incomplete hospital built by a trust stands as a constant reminder of unfulfilled promises and unmet needs. Despite the project being announced 25 years ago, locals are still waiting for the hospital to open its doors.”We were promised that the hospital would bring affordable healthcare to our doorstep,” says Shalini Patil, a retired schoolteacher who has lived in the area since the early 2000s.
“Yet today, we are forced to travel long distances or pay high fees at private hospitals. Why should we suffer because of politics and bureaucracy?”In 1999, CIDCO allocated land to a trust to set up a charitable hospital, offering hope to Seawoods’ growing population. However, as the years passed and the building remained incomplete, that hope turned into frustration. “How long does it take to build a hospital?” asks Vishal More, a local shopkeeper.
“This is not just a delay – it’s a denial of our basic rights.”In October 2023, residents, led by former NMMC corporator Vishal Dolas, staged a peaceful relay hunger strike demanding either the immediate opening of the hospital or its transfer to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) for public use. The protest was temporarily suspended after receiving assurances from the trust, but residents say these promises have led nowhere.
“Every time there’s a protest, we get empty commitments. Then it’s back to silence,” says Anjali Kulkarni, a college student whose grandmother has to travel to Vashi for regular treatment. “We need real action, not more promises.”Beyond personal inconvenience, residents also highlight the wider public health impact. “Navi Mumbai is growing rapidly, but its public health infrastructure is not keeping up,” says Dr Rajeev Nair, a general practitioner in the area.
“A fully operational hospital here could alleviate the pressure on existing facilities and serve thousands.”Many now demand that CIDCO and government officials take decisive action. “Set a final deadline. If the trust fails, transfer it to the municipality. This land was meant for the public good,” insists activist Meenakshi Deshpande.
Source : the Free Press Journal
