Cong corporator opposes hospital improvement plan over cost

Mumbai, June 16 (UNI) Congress corporator from Colaba Vinod Shekhar today opposed the Standing Committee which cleared the proposal for the improvement of KEM hospital in Parel here as the lowest tender for the same was more than 54 per cent of the estimates.

The official estimate for the improvement of KEM Hospital was Rs 17 crore but the lowest tender received was of Rs 24 crore, with 15 per cent contingency fund. The estimated budget would, thus, be around Rs 28 crore -- Rs 11 crore more than the estimates.

Mr Shekhar said, ''It is not a very important proposal and the BMC could have asked for re-tender, which they did not do and have cleared the proposal thereby increasing the cost.'' Bhalchandra Shirsat of the BJP supported Mr Shekhar and said, ''If the difference between the official estimate and the actual cost is so high, then there is something wrong in the system.'' UNI JN MAZ AG1910