Mumbai: Despite strong opposition from residents and health activists, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is pressing ahead with the privatisation of key hospital services. In its latest move, the civic body has invited tenders for setting up dialysis units, cath labs, MRI and CT scan facilities, and even a blood bank for transfusion patients in various peripheral hospitals through private operators.

New Model Replaces PPP for Hospital Services in Peripheral Facilities

This time, however, the outsourcing will be done under a new ‘Civic Health Collaboration Model’ instead of the earlier public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

Under this model, the civic body will rent out space in its peripheral hospitals to private operators, who will run these services and charge patients as per agreed rates. However, there is no clarity on the minimum number of patients to be referred daily from BMC hospitals for these facilities.

A senior official from the BMC’s Health Department admitted the model is not significantly different from the earlier PPP arrangement. “It is similar to the PPP model, where patients still have to pay for these services,” the official said.

The peripheral hospitals where this model will be implemented include Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, MT Agarwal in Mulund, Dr Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli, Bhabha Hospitals in Bandra and Kurla, and Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali.

Dialysis at Rs 500 per Session for BMC Patients; Government Scheme Rates Apply

Under the new model, the civic body will set up dialysis centres at its peripheral hospitals in Borivali, Mulund, Ghatkopar, and Kandivali for a period of 10 years, with the option of two extensions of 10 years each. BMC patients will be charged Rs 500 per dialysis session, while those covered under government schemes will be billed as per approved rates.

Similarly, MRI and CT scan facilities will be established at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Kandivali (West), Khurshidjee Behramjee Bhabha General Hospital, Bandra (West), Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital, Borivali, and M.T. Agrawal Municipal Hospital, Mulund. The civic body will provide dedicated space for these services on an annual rental basis.

Activists Warn of Commercialisation, Lack of Patient Referral Safeguards

However, the tender documents do not specify the service charges or the minimum number of BMC-referred patients to be served daily. “Without such clarity, the private operator could run the facility for commercial purposes, catering to patients from outside hospitals,” warned a health activist.

Health activists have questioned whether the civic body — which operates 212 health posts, 192 dispensaries, 30 maternity homes, and five specialised hospitals, including four medical colleges and major hospitals in the city — is steadily moving towards the privatisation of key healthcare services. “We have already seen doctors being appointed on contract, and even an unregistered doctor working in the ICU of V.N. Desai Hospital,” one activist said.

New Delhi: To avoid rush by ensuring hassle-free ticket booking experience during the upcoming peak festive seasons, the Ministry of Railways on Saturday said that it has decided to formulate a ‘Round Trip Package’ on discounted fare and rebates benefit.

The move will facilitate passengers and redistribute the peak traffic for a larger range during peak festival seasons and ensure both sides utilisation of trains, including special trains.

“It has been decided to formulate an experimental scheme named as Round Trip Package for festival rush on discounted fare,” the Railways Ministry stated.

According to the ministry, the scheme will be applicable for those passengers who choose their return journey during the prescribed period.

Under this scheme, rebates shall be applicable when booked for both the onward and return journey for the same set of passengers.

Passenger details of the return journey will be the same as those of the onward journey. Passengers can book their tickets from August 14 for the advance reservation period (ARP) date of October 13.

“An onward ticket shall be booked first for the train start date between 13th October 2025 and 26th October 2025, and subsequently return journey ticket shall be booked by using the connecting journey feature for the train start date between 17th November and 1st December 2025,” the Ministry stated.

However, advance reservation period will not be applicable for booking of return journey.

Other conditions to avail the benefits of the railway’s new special scheme are the booking shall be permissible only for confirmed tickets in both directions, total rebates of 20 per cent shall be granted on base fare of return journey only, booking under this scheme shall be for the same class and same O-D pair for both onward and return journey.

According to Railways, no refund of fare shall be permissible for the tickets booked under this scheme.

This scheme shall be allowed for all classes and in all trains, including special trains (Trains on demand), except trains having Flexi fare.

In addition, no modification will be allowed on these tickets in either of the journeys, and there will be no discounts, Rail travel coupons, Voucher-based bookings, or Passes be admissible during return journey booking on concessional fare.

Passenger can book their ticket via both online and offline modes; however, both onward and return journey tickets must be booked using the same mode (online or offline).

Mumbai: A 53-year-old woman, Ambubai Sonawane, succumbed a day after a road accident in Goregaon East. She was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by her 29-year-old acquaintance, Shubham Ghatwal, when the incident occurred at the Goregaon check naka while attempting to overtake a BEST bus on August 5. She was declared dead during treatment on August 6.

About The Accident

According to the police, Sonawane, a junior artist in the film industry, resided in Shanti Niketan, Goregaon East, with her family. On August 4, she went to Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari for a film shoot. The next morning, around 8.30 am, while returning home, she met Ghatwal, who offered her a ride. As they headed towards the Goregaon check post, Ghatwal attempted to overtake a bus and collided with an oncoming two-wheeler.

Sonawane fell, sustaining serious injuries. She was first taken to Seven Hills Hospital, Andheri. After receiving first aid, she was brought home. Later, her son took her to Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari East, where she was declared dead during treatment.